This bill proposes a supplemental appropriation of $12 million from the General Fund to the Village of Ridgewood for necessary drinking water infrastructure improvements aimed at addressing per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) pollution. 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 legislation aims to alleviate the financial burden on ratepayers by preventing significant rate increases that would otherwise be required to cover the costs of these essential improvements.

The bill includes specific legal language that designates the $12 million as "STATE AID" under the Department of Community Affairs, specifically for local government services related to the Ridgewood Water PFAS-related infrastructure improvements. This act is set to take effect immediately upon enactment, reflecting the urgency of addressing the PFAS contamination in the drinking water system.