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HAUPPAUGE, NY— After its unanimous passage, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine signed the first capital budget of his term. It includes funding for public safety, improving county infrastructure and upgrades for Suffolk County’s Board of Elections.

“With this budget, we can remedy problems long neglected by the prior administration,” said Romaine. “We prioritize upgrades to our critical infrastructure and delay noncritical projects to deliver results that are both impactful and fiscally responsible.”

Upon assuming office, the Romaine administration identified areas in need of investment, including cyber infrastructure still reeling from the 2022 cyber breach, neglected buildings, law enforcement and the vital upgrades needed at the board of election accommodate for Albany imposed even-year elections.

The signed 2025 Capital Budget is $535,014,841. Amendments made to the three-year capital program amount to $673,605 in savings.

“Our residents rely on our infrastructure for transportation, wastewater management and water quality, public safety and elections,” said Romaine. “With these investments, we can meet and exceed the expectations of Suffolk County residents.”

Highlights of the 2025-2027 Capital Program include:

• Sewage Infrastructure

  • $150 million for Carlls River-Wyandanch, Wheatley Heights and Deer Park sewer infrastructure
  • $150 million to expand the Forge River Sewer District
  • $139.5 million for upgrades for the Southwest Sewer District No. 3
  • $101.3 for Smithtown sewers

• Public Safety

  • $10 million for state-of-the-art tasers
  • $10 million for body cameras and accessories
  • $36 million for new public safety vehicles

• Bridges, Roads, and Transit

  • $33 million to repair and resurface county roads
  • $31 million NYS Route 110 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), connecting LIRR stations at Amityville, Republic Airport, and Huntington
  • $25.1 million road safety improvement

• Information Technology

  • $12.9 million for fiber cabling, network protection, hardware replacement, and technological disaster recovery upgrades
  • $3.6 million for technology upgrades and digitization of records

• Quality of Life Projects

  • $41.6 million for improvements to the county parks, including campsite upgrades and park upgrades
  • $24.2 million for improvements and renovations for numerous county historical sites and museums throughout Suffolk County
  • $23.1 million for dredging, upland disposal restoration, and new dredging equipment
  • $22.5 million for Hike and Bike Master Plan

• Open Space Acquisition

  • $15 million for farmland preservation 

• Economic Drivers

  • $11.5 million for Mastic Beach Revitalization
  • $4.7 million for improvements at Gabreski Airport
  • $1.8 Suffolk County Downtown Revitalization Program

• Board of Elections

  • $34.8 million for new voting machines and other infrastructure.

“This is a budget the residents of Suffolk County can be proud of,” said Romaine. “Every step of the process was taxpayers first. It was the first budget delivered on time in over a decade. The Legislature had ample time for input, and every cent mattered.”

HAUPPAUGE, NY— Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine today delivered his first State of the County Address, laying out his four-year vision to rebuild Suffolk County safer while summarizing his administration’s accomplishments in his first 100 days of office. The County Executive addressed the Suffolk County Legislature and public officials at the Rose Caracappa Auditorium in Hauppauge.

Top priorities of the administration include strengthening municipal finances, public safety, improving county facilities, cyber security, prioritizing public works projects and enhancing infrastructure and social services reform.

“When I took office, I stated that this administration would be rooted in the values of hard work and accountability so we can build a future that is safer and more affordable for Suffolk County,” said Romaine. “We have already taken significant steps since January 1 that serve as cornerstones of this administration, with much more to come.”

Highlights of County Executive Romaine’s 2024 address include:

Strengthening County Finances:

In 2024, S&P Global Ratings upgraded its long-term rating and underlying rating (SPUR) on Suffolk County’s general obligation (GO) bonds outstanding to 'AA-' from 'A+’ with a stable outlook.

In addition, the County reached an agreement with the Suffolk Coalition of Public Employees to extend health care benefits for employees, saving $100 million over a five-year period.

The county executive also announced a new Centralized Grants Office to make sure Suffolk County gets its fair share of state and federal funding.

Romaine also vowed “to not submit a budget a budget that exceeds the state-mandated 2% property tax cap.”

Investing in & Prioritizing Public Safety

County Executive Romaine announced in January new leadership for the Suffolk County Police Department: Acting Police Commissioner Robert Waring, Kevin Catalina as Deputy Police Commissioner and Belinda Groneman as Deputy Police Commissioner.

The County Executive also announced the addition of more than 200 members of law enforcement and enhancements for public safety, including funding for new public safety vehicles and body cameras.

Romaine also highlighted changes made in the county’s Traffic and Parking Violations Bureau (TPVA), which improve operations and help ensure fairness to those who must come before traffic court.

Improving County Facilities

County Executive Romaine is committed to improving unmaintained county facilities as part of an approach to enhance constituent affairs and improve employee morale. The County Executive announced his intent to seek alternatives and potential renovations for Suffolk County Police Headquarters, H. Lee Dennison Building, the Medical Examiner’s Office Building and more.

Re-Acquisition of John J. Foley Property in Yaphank

Suffolk County announced the intent to re-acquire the former John J. Foley nursing home property in Yaphank, citing significant cost savings. The County intends to use the facility to ensure compliance with New York State’s criminal justice laws related to juvenile and adolescent offenders.

Cyber Security

Suffolk County is still recovering from the crippling 2022 cyberattack that hindered municipal operations and compromised sensitive information. County Executive Romaine ordered the full audit of spending related to the attack, announced the hiring of John McCaffrey as Chief Information Officer/Department of Information Technology Commissioner and committed additional resources to ensure enhanced security measures.

Public Works and Enhancing Infrastructure

The County Executive’s proposed $489 million capital budget rebuilds Suffolk’s infrastructure, sewers, parks, and roadways. The proposed budget invests in capital projects, prioritizes new and upgraded sewer projects and improvements to roads, bridges and transit. This also includes $106 million for sewer projects and $120 million for improvements to roads, bridges and transit.

Reforming Social Services

Suffolk County has taken immediate and swift action to reform the Suffolk County Department of Social Services. In April, County Executive Romaine named Dr. John Imhof as the new Commissioner of the Department of Social Services, working under Deputy County Executive Dr. Sylvia Diaz. The leadership changes come in the immediate aftermath of a special grand jury report about the handling of the case of 8-year-old Thomas Valva, who died in 2020. In addition, the County Executive is committed to filling hundreds of vacant positions and reform processes within the department, leading to more efficient services.

Protecting the Environment & Preserving Open Space

County Executive Romaine announced his commitment to environmental preservation along with open space preservation and farmland protection. The County Executive recently appropriated $15 million to preserve farmland. Since taking office, nearly 100 acres of farmland and open space throughout the County has been preserved with additional acquisitions planned later in the year.

HAUPPAUGE, NY—Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine submitted the first capital budget of his term in office today. It is the first time in four years the capital budget has been submitted on time. It includes funding for public safety, improving county infrastructure, upgrades and investment for Suffolk County’s Board of Elections.

“This budget addresses issues long neglected by the prior administration,” said Romaine. “County infrastructure—especially many buildings and other facilities—are in pitiful condition. The county’s IT infrastructure has still not recovered from the 2022 cyber breach, law enforcement needs additional resources, and we must make upgrades at the Board of Elections to ensure accurate, fair elections and prepare for the new even-year election law in New York State.”

The proposed 2025 Capital Budget is $488,760,526 and was submitted to the Suffolk County Legislature on April 15, 2024. The Legislature will review and suggest changes. The budget will be adopted after it is approved by the Legislature and signed by the County Executive. It is expected to be finalized in June.

“This budget represents a smart investment into our infrastructure and county operations that will continue to make this county safer and more affordable,” said Romaine. 

The budget also includes significant investments for the Board of Elections for state-of-the-art voting machines to ensure election integrity.

“Changes in election law and questions in other areas regarding election fraud have caused us to move quickly to upgrade our systems and ensure fair and accurate election results in Suffolk County,” said Romaine.

Highlights of the 2025-2027 Proposed Capital Program include:

• Sewage Infrastructure

  • $150 million for Carlls River-Wyandanch, Wheatley Heights and Deer Park sewer infrastructure
  • $150 million to expand the Forge River Sewer District
  • $139.5 million for upgrades for the Southwest Sewer District No. 3
  • $101.3 for Smithtown sewers

• Public Safety

  • $10 million for state-of-the-art tasers
  • $10 million for body cameras and accessories
  • $36 million for new public safety vehicles

• Bridges, Roads, and Transit

  • $33 million to repair and resurface county roads
  • $31 million NYS Route 110 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), connecting LIRR stations at Amityville, Republic Airport, and Huntington
  • $24.5 million road safety improvement

• Information Technology

  • $12.9 million for fiber cabling, network protection, hardware replacement, and technological disaster recovery upgrades
  • $3.6 million for technology upgrades and digitization of records

• Quality of Life Projects

  • $41.6 million for improvements to the county parks, including campsite upgrades and park upgrades
  • $24.2 million for improvements and renovations for numerous county historical sites and museums throughout Suffolk County
  • $23.1 million for dredging, upland disposal restoration, and new dredging equipment
  • $22.5 million for Hike and Bike Master Plan

• Open Space Acquisition

  • $15 million for farmland preservation

     

• Economic Drivers

  • $45 million for waterfront development at Vanderbilt Museum
  • $11.5 million for Mastic Beach Revitalization
  • $4.7 million for improvements at Gabreski Airport
  • $1.8 Suffolk County Downtown Revitalization Program

• Board of Elections

  • $20.6 million ($34.3 million over five years) for new voting machines and other infrastructure.

“I am proud of this budget,” said Romaine. “Every aspect, every dollar, benefits the taxpayers of this county. We are moving forward, preserving this county’s assets, improving quality of life and keeping our streets safe. We are doing the work that the people expect from its government.”