Suffolk County unveils $3B public works proposal for roads, sewers and new medical examiner facility

Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine unveiled a $787.5 million proposed capital budget for 2026 that focuses on new sewers, improvements to roads and bridges, public safety projects such as repairs to correctional facilities and enhancing county campsites.

The larger three-year capital plan for 2026-28 includes $3 billion in investments, an increase of $700 million compared to the previously adopted plan. 

The capital budget, which allows the government to plan long-term public works projects, is separate from the operating budget that is due in the fall. The proposed 2026 spending plan represents a 47% increase in total cost compared to the adopted 2025 capital budget.

The Suffolk County Legislature will need to vote on adopting the capital budget and separately approve appropriating funds for specific projects. The projects would be funded primarily through a mix of bonds and federal and state funding.

In an introduction to the budget, Romaine, a Republican in his second year, said "it represents a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to addressing the challenges posed by extreme weather events, an aging infrastructure, uncertain economic conditions and other emergencies that are becoming increasingly frequent."

The 2026-28 capital program includes more than $246.7 million in upgrades to bridges, roads and transit projects funded through federal and state aid, according to the budget.

Romaine, in an interview Tuesday, said there is "great confidence" federal funding "will be forthcoming" amid the constant threats of cuts under President Donald Trump. Romaine said he was more concerned about state funding, citing the challenge of securing funds through the Environmental Bond Act of 2022.

In preparing the budget, Romaine said he reached out to all the legislators to solicit specific projects "of significance to their particular district" and said the legislators have "been true partners."

Legis. Steven Flotteron (R-Brightwaters), the deputy presiding officer and chair of the Budget and Finance Committee, said the capital budget can undergo some tweaks as legislators begin their review.

"I like to let the administration have the flexibility, having a bunch of things in there," he said. "This doesn't determine an expense until we adopt it in the future to float the bond for a certain project."

Some highlights include:

• $200 million to "support a transportation hub" in Ronkonkoma where the county recently launched a search for a new corporate partner to lead redevelopment of the site formally known as Midway Crossing.
• $74.5 million to expand electrical service and "other improvements" to campsites across county parks
• $42 million to replace marked and unmarked police vehicles.
• $72.7 million to purchase public transit vehicles, including 30 battery electric buses and 37 hybrid electric buses to help reach the state mandate to electrify its fleet by 2035.
• $260 million to design and construct sewers in the commercial areas of Centereach, Selden, Farmingville and Coram.
• $239.5 million for the expansion of Sewer District No. 3 in West Babylon to increase its capacity.

Romaine highlighted the new, $186 million medical examiner building as part of the three-year plan, telling Newsday he "wants to have the most modern, up to date crime lab possible."

County lawmakers earlier this year authorized a $20 million bond for design and engineering costs for the new building, which is expected to take about a year and a half.

Romaine said he believes the capital budget is a "solid plan."

"We always wish we could do more, but we're limited by our resources and by our responsibility to the taxpayers," he added.

Correction: This article and its headline have been updated after a previous version misstated how much property taxes would go up by because of the proposed capital budget.