Environmental Groups Sue Suffolk Country For Diverting Water-Protection Funds

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) — Environmental groups say the Suffolk County Government committed a breach of trust — and broke the law — when it used water-protection funds to fill a budget gap.

As TV 10/55?s Carolyn Gusoff reported, a lawsuit was served Monday to Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and the county Legislature. The environmental groups argue the government had no right to divert $33 million created by a quarter-percent sales tax.

The tax, which has been approved by voters five times since 1987, is intended to go toward protecting Long Island’s drinking water supply. The tax has raised about $1.5 billion to date.

“They took it and plugged holes in the budget because they couldn’t balance the budget,” said Dick Amper, executive director of the Long Island Pine Barrens Society, an environmental advocacy group. “That’s not only immoral, it’s illegal.”

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/03/10/environmental-groups-sue-suffolk-country-for-diverting-water-protection-funds/