New Suffolk Water Authority chairman opposes rate hike

Former Democratic Suffolk lawmaker James Gaughran took his first step toward becoming chairman of the Suffolk Water Authority recently and said he opposes any increase in water rates for the coming fiscal year, which starts June 1.

A resolution appointing Gaughran, already a water authority board member, was approved in the county legislature's environment committee this week to succeed retiring chairman Michael LoGrande.

A resolution for Errol Toulan of Smithtown was also voted out of committee to take LoGrande's vacancy on the five-member board. If confirmed at the legislature meeting May 10, Toulan would become the first black member of the water authority board.

During his 20 minutes of testimony before the board, Gaughran said he opposes a rate increase, but acknowledged that an outside consultant, Black and Veach, is currently doing a study on whether a rate increase is needed. The consultant is tentatively expected to report back to the board Wednesday in a special meeting.

Gaughran said that even if the rate is frozen for the coming year, it may not be possible to keep the rates level for the long term, unless revenue, which has suffered during the past two rainy summers, improves this year.

The authority's residential water rates currently are $1.46 per 1,000 gallons, while the average for authorities nationwide is $2.50 per 1,000 gallons.

Legis. Dan Losquadro (R-Shoreham) said residents cannot afford increases from any level of government, saying they are "dying a death of a thousand cuts."