Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine talks affordability, public safety and taxpayer-funded projects in State of the County address

Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine revealed next year's proposed spending plan  will have no increase in general fund taxes during his State of the County  address that focused on affordability, infrastructure projects and public safety.

Romaine, a Republican in his third year in office, spoke during a special meeting of the Suffolk County Legislature Thursday  evening, striking a bipartisan tone to governing before several town supervisors, county lawmakers  and agency officials. 

"Affordability is the number one issue on the mind of every Suffolk resident," he said.

Romaine will deliver the proposed budget to legislators for review later this month. This year's current budget stands at $4.3 billion. 

Presiding Officer Anthony Piccirillo (R-Holtsville) was joined by fellow GOP lawmakers following Romaine's speech and said they are delivering "on our promise to keep Suffolk County more affordable."

"We are putting taxpayers first while also delivering on our promise to keep Suffolk County residents safe by putting hundreds of more police officers on the streets, bolstering the ranks of the district attorney's office while also preserving open space and protecting our drinking water," he added.

 Affordability was also on Democrats' minds. 

Earlier Thursday, Democratic lawmakers held a news conference to discuss a proposal to cap the sales tax on gasoline as a way to offset rising costs facing residents. Under the proposal, similar to what was implemented during the pandemic, $3 per gallon of gas would be taxed at the 4.25% county sales tax rate, while any amount beyond that would be untaxed.

Legis. Samuel Gonzalez (D-Brentwood) said he introduced a resolution in March, but it has not been laid on the table to allow lawmakers to review it.

Piccirillo said the proposal would need a $35 million offset in the budget before it could be considered. Gonzalez said the county could be in line to already generate that much additional revenue due to the higher gas prices.

Romaine said he would work with the legislature on the proposal but added New York State should suspend its portion of the sales tax on gas, which would result in greater savings than the county portion. 

Romaine also  proposed moving the Suffolk County Police Department’s headquarters from its current Yaphank facility to the nearby vacant John J. Foley nursing home building, which the county purchased in 2024. At the time, the county — which is experiencing lower crime rates this year — had considered  turning part of the building into a jail for adolescent offenders.

He said the department can “gradually move over” and said other agencies could be relocated into the police department's current building after a renovation. 

It's unclear what the costs associated with that move would be. Piccirillo said lawmakers will have discussions with the Department of Public Works to get estimates and the legislature "will do its part in making sure that it's a cost-effective move for the county."

Romaine said he'd also like to see some of the approximately 100 historic buildings the county owns be renovated for new purposes. 

"I'm looking to reduce our rent roll and own because owning is always better, for the most part, than renting," he said.

He promised "major changes" to the Department of Social Services and said interviews are underway for the commissioner and deputy commissioner positions, which both became vacant earlier this summer. Deputy County Executive Sylvia Diaz has been serving as interim commissioner.

He also discussed sewer infrastructure and highlighted funding available for homeowners to purchase and install alternative septic systems.

"We are charging ahead and the money is there," he said.

He highlighted large infrastructure projects underway or in the works, like construction of a new medical examiner's building, a new Smith Point bridge and restorations of Stump Pond at Blydenburgh County Park in Smithtown. 

Romaine also discussed the county's new Working Waterfront Program that will help preserve some of the 2,400 acres of commercial waterfront property spanning the county.

On county finances, Romaine again cited bond upgrades during his tenure and said it's important to maintain reserve balances, which he said currently total about $800 million.

"We cannot allow our reserves to decline," he said.

Minority Leader Jason Richberg (D-West Babylon) delivered the Democratic response and echoed  affordability as a key theme.

“Affordability cannot be addressed with one program, one tax reduction or one piece of legislation," he said. "It requires us to look at the entire cost of living here."

Richberg said the Democrats will support good ideas regardless of where they originate. 

“At the end of the day, the measure of government is not how loudly elected officials argue," he said. "It is not who gets credit. It is whether people’s lives get better and families feel more secure.”

The State of the County, typically held in spring, was  postponed in April and May, according to notices from the legislature. The postponements were due to “scheduling,” according to Mike Martino, Romaine’s spokesperson. Romaine held his first two State of the County addresses in May 2024 and April 2025.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman delivered his 2026 state of the county address in March.

By Joe Werkmeister

joe.werkmeister@newsday.com

Joe Werkmeister joined Newsday in 2022 and covers Suffolk County government and politics. He is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University and previously worked as the editor of two North Fork community newspapers.

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