Suffolk County executive signs off on $2.3B infrastructure plan

Suffolk County residents could see massive upgrades to its sewer systems, highways and the construction of a jail facility thanks to a three-year, $2.3 billion capital spending proposal. 

The proposed 2025-27 capital budget plan is the first proposal submitted by Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine and is $948 million more than the previous three-year capital budget. 

Romaine, a Republican who took office in January, has repeatedly lamented the state of county properties like the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge and said investing in infrastructure is a priority for his administration.

“We're not going to allow the assets of this county, mainly its infrastructure, to be neglected,” Romaine told Newsday on Wednesday. “It only costs more to replace it if we don't maintain what we have.”

The legislature unanimously approved the capital budget at its general meeting June 25 and Romaine signed it Tuesday. The money still needs to be appropriated in the annual operating budget, which the Suffolk County Legislature must adopt in November. 

One of the more expensive line items is $48 million to build a facility for youthful offenders that complies with the state’s “Raise the Age” law that prevents inmates under the age of 18 to be housed with adults. Suffolk in May purchased the former John J. Foley nursing home property in Yaphank and announced plans to potentially convert a portion of the building for that purpose. Romaine said the project is awaiting state approval.

The plan also includes nearly $35 million to purchase new voting machines in 2025. Representatives of the county Board of Elections have said they are considering purchasing touch-screen voting machines manufactured by Omaha, Nebraska-based Election Systems & Software, as the current system is 14 years old and needs to be replaced.

Other projects in the 2025 plan include:

$32,9 million for law enforcement projects, including $10 million for tasers and $12 million for new public safety vehicles, $25,6 million to replace a bridge along Montauk Highway in Hampton Bays over the Long Island Rail Road track, $23 million for downtown Smithtown sewers, $16,3 million to purchase public transit vehicles, $21 million to implement a hike and bike master plan with additions like countdown timers at crosswalks and bike lanes,.

Republican and Democratic lawmakers praised the plan. Legis. Tom Donnelly (D-Deer Park) called it a “a sound fiscal budget that addresses critical infrastructure needs.” Legislative Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey (R-Lindenhurst) said the plan makes “investments to keep Suffolk County a desirable place for current residents, and for the next generations.”

Budget analysts said Suffolk, which benefited from nearly $500 million in federal pandemic aid and higher-than-anticipated sales tax revenue, is in a good financial position to make those investments.

“The County can reasonably dedicate more substantial resources to the backlog of infrastructure projects that were deferred over the years,” according to the annual capital budget report from the legislature’s Budget Review Office.