This bill proposes a supplemental appropriation of $12 million from the General Fund to the Village of Ridgewood, New Jersey, specifically for drinking water infrastructure improvements aimed at addressing pollution from per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The funding is intended to support the Ridgewood Water Department, which serves over 60,000 residents across Ridgewood, Midland Park, Glen Rock, and Wyckoff. The bill aims to alleviate the financial burden on ratepayers by preventing significant rate increases that would otherwise be necessary to cover the costs of these essential infrastructure upgrades.

The bill includes new legal language designating the $12 million as "STATE AID" under the appropriations for the Department of Community Affairs, specifically for local government services. This act is set to take effect immediately upon passage, reflecting the urgency of addressing the PFAS contamination issue in the drinking water system.