County executive outlines budget priorities, staffing and infrastructure upgrades in State of the County address

Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey introduced County Executive Edward P. Romaine, who delivered the annual State of the County address before the full Suffolk County Legislature on May 7, saying, "the State of the County is good, but it can be improved." Romaine outlined a multi-year plan that centers on fiscal stability, infrastructure repairs and public safety.

Romaine highlighted a recent credit-rating upgrade and said he plans to push for further improvement: "One thing I want to do before my tenure ends is to get this County up to triple A," he said, noting a recent move to A+ from AA-minus. He said officials will fund and fill vacant positions rather than leaving payroll lines empty, and pledged to centralize the county's grants office to pursue more state and federal aid.

On infrastructure, the executive said his administration will audit and repair county buildings including the Dennison Building and police facilities. He said the county's 2024 capital budget proposal commits $120 million-plus for roads, bridges and transit and $15 million for farmland preservation. "We're going to make sure it has the adequate resources to go forward," he said.

Romaine said he was reviewing prior spending tied to emergency cyber-security declarations and has launched a forensic review of roughly $27 million in related expenditures. He announced the appointment of a new Chief Information Officer, John McCaffrey, and said the county aims to secure cyber-insurance and harden systems.

Public safety was another central theme: he said additional police recruits and detectives are in the pipeline, citing recent academy graduations and a second class planned for August. He also said the county will examine options for a new police headquarters and invest in the Medical Examiner's Office and fingerprinting lab where needed.

Romaine criticized state and regional funding gaps, arguing Suffolk County is undersupported on public transportation and infrastructure relative to comparable counties. He urged state and federal investment in sewer systems and electrification of commuter rail lines, and called for better transit funding to expand bus and train service.

On county finance and lawsuits, Romaine said the administration will seek to resolve legal claims tied to prior accounting and budget practices, including actions related to diverted funds and sewer-district matters. He also pledged more transparency in opioid-settlement spending, promising public meetings and metrics for allocation.

The address concluded with a call for bipartisan work with the Legislature to execute the administration's agenda. "Working together, investing in our infrastructure, rebuilding what is needed in this County, our best days are ahead," Romaine said.

Provenance: This summary is based on the County Executive's annual address to the Suffolk County Legislature (State of the County), May 7, 2024. Representative quote: "the State of the County is good, but it can be improved." (SEG 645-646).