WAT §13999.9: (a) The sum of forty million dollars ($40,000,000) of the money in the fund shall be deposited in the Small Communities Assistance Account and is appropriated for supplemental state assistance to smal

(a) The sum of forty million dollars ($40,000,000) of the money in the fund shall be deposited in the Small Communities Assistance Account and is appropriated for supplemental state assistance to small communities for construction of treatment works eligible for assistance under Title II of the federal Clean Water Act. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (c) of Section 13999.5, the board may make grants to small communities so that the combined federal and state grant is an amount up to 97 1 2 percent of pollution studies, the total estimated cost of planning, design, and construction determined in accordance with applicable state laws and regulations. No supplemental state assistance grant under this section shall be made for projects costing more than two million five hundred thousand dollars ($2,500,000) unless a finding is made by the board that a higher cost project is the most cost-effective solution to a water quality or public health problem. (c) Any contract entered into pursuant to this section may include such provisions as may be determined by the board, provided that any contract shall include the provisions required by paragraphs (1) and (3) of subdivision (c) of Section 13999.8.