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HAUPPAUGE, NY – Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine today unveiled his 2026 Recommended Operating Budget, a comprehensive financial plan that sustains essential services, strengthens public safety, protects Suffolk’s environment, and safeguards the county’s long-term financial health.

The $4.3 billion budget complies fully with New York State’s property tax cap and local charter requirements, while addressing the challenges of limited sales tax growth and broader economic uncertainty.

“This budget strikes the right balance between fiscal discipline and forward-thinking investments,” said County Executive Romaine. “It protects the services our residents depend on, strengthens our public safety and environmental protection efforts, and manages taxpayer dollars responsibly. Our mission is clear: to make Suffolk County safer, stronger, and more affordable.”

Highlights of the 2026 Recommended Operating Budget

Enhancing Public Safety

• Funding is included for new classes of Police Officers, Deputy Sheriffs, Probation Officers, and Correction Officers to ensure that Suffolk’s law enforcement agencies remain fully staffed and prepared to serve the public.
• The Suffolk County Police Department will continue expanding its efforts to improve roadway safety through its Street Takeover Task Force and enhanced drugged-driving prevention training. Its state-of-the-art Crime Analysis Center will serve as an intelligence hub linking local, state, and federal partners.
• The Sheriff’s Office will continue modernizing operations with advanced investigative technology, a new county-wide records management system, and the expansion of the Sheriff’s Addiction Treatment Program and Sheriff’s Transition and Reentry Team.
• The District Attorney’s Office will continue funding major initiatives, including the Fentanyl Task Force, the East End Drug Task Force, the Fatal Overdose Analysis Team, and Suffolk’s first-ever Cold Case Task Force. These programs target drug traffickers, gangs, and violent criminals, while bringing justice to families affected by unsolved crimes.

“Keeping Suffolk County safe has always been and will always remain our top priority,” said Romaine. “We are investing in the people, the tools, and the technology needed to protect our residents and reduce crime. Suffolk County now has the lowest violent crime rate of any county in New York with more than one million residents—and this budget will help us keep it that way.”

Protecting Water Quality

• A new dedicated 1/8 percent of one percent sales tax, approved by Suffolk voters in 2024, will fund long-term wastewater and sewer infrastructure improvements.
• These funds will be used to expand and upgrade sewer systems, modernize treatment plants, and support programs that help homeowners replace outdated septic systems with advanced technology.
• Beginning January 1, 2026, all county sewer districts will be consolidated into a single wastewater management district, streamlining operations and strengthening oversight.

“With this budget, we are protecting our drinking water and our bays, rivers, and beaches,” Romaine said. “Generations of Suffolk residents will benefit from these long-term investments in clean water, a healthy environment, and a sustainable future.”

Strengthening Services for Families and Children

• The Department of Social Services has made major strides in reducing Child Protective caseloads, with case workers now averaging 10 investigations each—well below state benchmarks.
• SNAP (food assistance) applications are now being processed on time, with Suffolk meetings exceeding the federal 95% compliance threshold every month in 2025.
• Services for Children with Special Needs—including preschool special education, early intervention, and related therapies—will continue to expand to meet growing demand.

Managing Rising Costs

• Pension costs will rise by $20.5 million in 2026 due to state-mandated contribution increases.
• Employee health care costs continue to be a challenge, particularly the rapid rise in costs for new prescription drugs. Suffolk is addressing these pressures with plan design changes, savings from a new administrator, and the use of fund balances to stabilize rates.

Fiscal Responsibility and Reserves

• Since 2022, Suffolk has used its reserve funds to offset $295 million in settlement and capital debt, saving taxpayers nearly $100 million in interest costs.
• The county continues to maintain strong reserves to cushion against economic downturns or unforeseen events, ensuring long-term fiscal stability.

Improving Efficiency and Service Delivery

• The Transportation Division will be transferred to the Department of Economic Development and Planning, consolidating oversight of Suffolk County Transit, Gabreski Airport, and other transportation initiatives. This will modernize services, improve efficiency, and strengthen regional transit planning.
• Seasonal EMT services at county parks and beaches will be transferred to the Department of Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services, ensuring streamlined training, scheduling, and emergency response.
• The Parks Department will add new forestry positions to protect more than 60,000 acres of parkland, improve fire prevention, and strengthen climate resilience.
• County government will digitize critical records, reducing costs, improving efficiency, and freeing up valuable space while strengthening cybersecurity safeguards.

“This budget is about responsible government that delivers results,” Romaine said. “From strengthening our law enforcement agencies to protecting clean water and improving services for families, we are building a county that is safer, stronger, and more affordable for everyone who calls Suffolk home.”

The Recommended Operating Budget will now be submitted to the Suffolk County Legislature for review and adoption.

(Hauppauge, NY) – Suffolk County Comptroller John M. Kennedy, Jr. is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of fiscal responsibility. To that end, he partnered with three+one, a financial data provider, to ensure that County funds are properly collateralized in accordance with NYS General Municipal Law § 10.

As a result of the Comptroller’s efforts, an automated collateral reporting process is now in place. It enables Suffolk County to verify the appropriate insurance and protection of public funds on a bimonthly basis. The frequent updates allow the Comptroller to confirm that millions of taxpayer dollars are secured across each County department, even when new accounts are opened.

Since the implementation of this strategic monitoring system, all participating banks have remained in compliance with State laws regarding the safeguarding of taxpayer dollars. The benefits of this program include enhanced security and improved visibility into Suffolk County’s financial standing.

Comptroller Kennedy stated, “I would like to thank my dedicated staff and three+one for their diligence in making this important endeavor a reality. As always, I extend my gratitude to County Executive Edward Romaine for his strong support of the Department of Audit and Control. I take my responsibility to protect the economic well-being of Suffolk County Taxpayers very seriously. This collateral initiative significantly strengthens the County’s financial security.”

Proposal will save hundreds of millions of gallons of water

HAUPPAUGE, NY – Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine and local officials announced on Thursday, December 5, a project for sewage effluent reuse at Bergen Point Wastewater Treatment Plant. The plan involves using treated effluent to irrigate the adjacent golf course and in the plant’s internal workings.

“This is one of ten county wastewater treatment plants that we are currently considering for water reuse,” said Romaine. “By utilizing what otherwise would have been a byproduct, we can decrease the pressure on our aquifer by hundreds of millions of gallons a year and even help recharge the aquifer.”

The project is based on Riverhead’s successful implementation at a town-owned wastewater treatment plant and golf course. Estimated to be in service within the next 18-24 months at Bergen Point, the reuse system is estimated to save 20 million gallons of water per year on irrigation alone. In addition, the internal plant mechanisms utilizing reuse water can save up to approximately two million gallons of per day.

“This project pilot will let Bergen Point be known for helping water quantity, as well as water quality. This is a great step forward to see if we can effectively take the wastewater and, instead of letting it flow into the ocean, use the effluent for irrigation and other purposes to help recharge the aquifer and reduce the nitrates in our water. I thank the County Executive and hope all these planned projects will work together to improve Suffolk’s water quality,” said Presiding Officer Kevin J. McCaffrey (LD-14).

“Moving forward, we need to do more recharging and water reuse. Bergen Point is just one of many sites where a golf course is close to a treatment plant. But golf course irrigation is just one example of ways in which we are now moving forward together, the Legislature and County Executive, to reduce the pollutants, replenish the aquifer, and improve our water quality,” said Deputy Presiding Officer Steven Flotteron (LD-11).

“It is great to work with County Executive Ed Romaine and his team of expert professionals on important water quality initiatives. I thank him for his continued commitment to the health and well-being of the residents of Suffolk County,” said Legislator Tom Donnelly (LD-17).

“The success of the Riverhead Sewage Treatment Plant’s Water Reuse Program, which was a pilot and has been in place since 2015, has been phenomenal.  Suffolk County plans to build on this success with water reuse at the Bergen Point Sewage Treat Plant, partnering with the Bergen Point Golf Course next door. With the passing of Proposition 2 by the voters in November, the funding for infrastructure improvements exists.  With that comes the possibility of more water reuse projects throughout the County, which is an exciting prospect,” said Legislator Ann Welker (LD-2).