Budget Includes Investments in IT Technology, Water Quality, Public Safety, Election Integrity
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.”
Suffolk Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey (R-Lindenhurst) said he was glad to see the capital budget receive the county executive’s signature. “I am pleased that, after unanimous passage by the Suffolk County Legislature, County Executive Ed Romaine has signed the first capital budget of his term,” he said in a statement. “Since before his election, and through his State of the County address to the Legislature in May, the county executive has expressed a clear vision for the place we all call home. Now the capital budget sets forth in clear economic force his emphasis on our shared priorities for public safety, fiscal responsibility, water quality, infrastructure, and improved technology – all investments to keep Suffolk County a desirable place for current residents, and for the next generations of our children, grandchildren, and beyond.”