By Lindsay Press and Hank Russell
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine gave a State of the County before the county Legislature in Riverhead on April 8. Over the course of slightly over thirty minutes, Romaine described the successes of Suffolk County over the last year, including passing a budget without piercing the tax cap and improvement of handling SNAP. He also shared his plans to improve the county’s finances, infrastructure and enhance public safety.
“The state of the county is good…financials are good,” Romaine said to applause. However, he said he “wants to see better results next year” and he can count on the Legislature to help get it done.”
Addressing the economy and the stock market as the result of President Donald Trump’s tariffs, he recalled being a county legislator in 1987 when the stock market took a tumble then. “We’re been through it before, we’ll get out of it.”
Romaine reminded the Legislature that he will submit his capital budget soon. He said he will vow to stay under the cap again.
“Huntington didn’t pierce the tax cap, Smithtown didn’t pierce the tax cap and Suffolk didn’t pierce the tax cap,” Romaine said. “We will not pierce the tax cap as long as I’m county executive. It’s my job, with your help, to balance the budget and to make sure that we owe a responsibility to our taxpayers.”
Romaine also highlighted other initiatives, highlighting the need to focus on future improvements, such as investing in infrastructure, including Smith Point Bridge, Ponquoge Bridge and County Road 39, as well as sewer systems. “These are all major problems,” he said. “We gotta start dealing with them. We can’t just neglect our infrastructure. … We have to improve our roads…our buildings are not in great shape. I will start investing in our infrastructure.”
He pointed out that 70% of Suffolk is not sewered. In response, he said that he will invest $1 billion over the next three years. Some of the municipalities slated for sewer installations include Smithtown, Kings Park, Oakdale and Huntington Station.
“Let’s not just invest in our sewers, but invest in our water quality as well.” Romaine said. He also challenged Governor Kathy Hochul to “match us dollar for dollar” on the environmental bond issue. “Who else is doing that in the state?”
Another topic was the county’s SNAP program that went from one of the worst in the state to the best, according to ROmaine, thanks in part to the reforms made in the county’s Department of Social Services. “Remember: good.better, best,” he said. “I want to be the best.”
Romaine offered a solution for children who are experiencing“No one in our county should go hungry. I want to find out if there’s a better way to connect our farms to our schools…they can purchase farm products for school lunches so we can have more nutritious lunches,” Romaine said.
Additionally, Romaine addressed the issue of public safety the new addition of 220 police officers and a plan to add more road patrols on roads in the summer. In addition, a task force was established to crack down on illegal street racing and car meetups.
“One of the major concerns of our constituents is that they take their lives into their own hands when they get onto one of our highways,” he said. “We just added nine [more patrol cars] already.”
He said he is standing with District Attorney Ray Tierney against the state’s Elder Parole Law, which lets convicted criminals out of prison because of the age. That, Romaine said, means Colin Ferguson — known for the 1994 Long Island Rail Road massacre — woulc be eligible for parole.
Romaine concluded his address this way. “I want you involved completely in the plans. I want your advice,” he said. “I will work with all of you, and listen to all of you…and listen to your concerns…Let’s solve problems that confront us.”
In response to his address, Legislator Jason Richberg (D-Deer Park) said government needs to be “transparent” and “work on the side of the people.” He also called for bipartisanship in dealing with the problems the county is facing. “We must work across the aisle, not for political points, but to work for the people.”
Calling the budget “a reflection on the county’s values,” Richberg said it is imperative that the resources be “distributed fairly and equitably … We believe in a budget that is fiscally responsible and morally responsive.. Every taxpayer should know that their tax dollars are being spent wisely and that those dollars are lifting our communities, not anyone behind.”
He cited the county’s 4% unemployment rate and said Suffolk’s workers deserve “fair wages, respect and the right to organize.” He said he is “waiting” for the county’s salary survey to be released, adding that wages have “been stagnating for a while.”
He focused on the rising costs of housing, which has caused “significant financial strain” on families.
Public safety is also key, he said, adding that more needs to be done for local law enforcement and leadership and residents “all the support they need.”
“Safety is not just the absence of danger,” he said. “It’s the presence of hope.”