§ 4763d. Municipal match of federal revolving funds
(a) A municipality may choose to provide the State money necessary to match federal monies available to the Vermont EPA Drinking Water State Revolving Fund established by subdivision 4753(a)(3) of this title, and thereby become eligible to receive a loan from the Revolving Fund in the amount of the total cost of a water facility project approved under this section. Such a loan from the Revolving Fund, for up to the total project cost, shall be approved by municipal voters and secured by the full faith and credit of the municipality or anticipated revenues from municipal water charges.
(b) The amount of such a municipal match of federal funds shall be equal to one-sixth of the total project cost, which shall constitute a sum in addition to the amount of a loan for the total project cost to be received by the municipality from the Revolving Fund. A municipality is authorized to borrow monies needed for the match amount, from sources other than the Revolving Fund, which shall be approved by municipal voters and secured by the full faith and credit of the municipality or anticipated revenues from municipal water charges, or a municipality may use other funds or tax revenues available to it for this purpose.
(c) Upon request of the owner of a privately owned public water system, a municipality may apply for and support an application for a community development block grant to receive use of State and federal funds, provided:
(1) the private water system owner agrees to pay all administrative and legal costs incurred by the municipality in pursuit of the grant;
(2) the municipality finds that the project to be supported by the grant is consistent with applicable local and regional plans, and local ordinances or other local enactments;
(3) the private water system owner, to the extent practicable, undertakes the administration of logistical and legal work necessary to prepare the application materials; and
(4) the private water system owner agrees to hold the municipality harmless from any claims of liability arising from the grant application or project.
(d) The Secretary may use federal funds to award grants to municipalities to complete studies, or for start-up costs associated with the physical and operational consolidation of public water systems or the interconnection of public water systems. The Secretary shall establish amounts, eligibility, priorities, policies, and procedures in the annual State Intended Use Plan (IUP), as required by the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300f et seq. (Added 2015, No. 103 (Adj. Sess.), § 32, eff. May 12, 2016.)