Cuomo Tappan Zee loan could put off sewer funding, again

Scott Waldman

ALBANY—For the second time this year, Governor Andrew Cuomo is proposing to hold off efforts to fund desperately needed sewer infrastructure projects in order to pay for more conspicuous and politically valuable initiatives.

In January, he proposed a $2 billion bond to pay for educational technology that supplanted a $5 billion environmental bond proposal to fund sewer repairs and other environmental initiatives across the state.

On Wednesday, the Thruway Authority is expected to give final approval to accept a $256 million loan from the state Environmental Facilities Corporation's clean water loan fund to help finance a new Tappan Zee Bridge. The money—half of Cuomo's original $511 million proposal—comes from a fund typically used to pay for expensive sewer repair projects and other initiatives that protect clean water and mitigate pollution.

The loan has raised the ire of local elected leaders, newspaper editorial boards as well as environmental groups. It may even be subject to an independent state investigation.

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2014/08/8550259/cuomo-tappan-zee-loan-could-put-sewer-funding-again