Some Suffolk County residents who recently installed environmentally friendly septic systems fear they may end up having to pay thousands of dollars in taxes.

Dorothy Minnick, of Flanders, was steaming after receiving a 1099 tax form from Suffolk regarding $10,000 in grant money she was awarded from the county to help pay for an advanced septic system.

When Minnick heard Suffolk was offering grants to homeowners who qualified, she decided to replace her home's aging cesspool with a new nitrogen-reducing system. But now Minnick says her taxes were about 65 percent higher than usual.

Minnick says she called Suffolk officials and got what she felt was the runaround.

Deputy County Executive Peter Scully says the 1099s should have never been sent to homeowners since the installers of the septic system actually received the grant money, and they're the ones who should be taxed. Scully on Thursday released the details of a letter asking the county comptroller's office to rescind the 1099s, saying, "The program was carefully designed to make the grant process easy and affordable for homeowners."

Suffolk Comptroller John Kennedy claims he's just doing things by the book.

So far, 69 advanced septic systems have been installed in Suffolk. The goal is to reduce nitrogen and keep Long Island's bays and estuaries healthy.