Suffolk Reporter

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine delivered his first State of the County Address, outlining his vision for the next four years and highlighting achievements in the first 100 days of his term. Romaine emphasized priorities such as strengthening municipal finances, public safety, improving county facilities, cyber security, public works projects, infrastructure enhancement, and social services reform.

"When I took office, I stated that this administration would be rooted in the values of hard work and accountability so we can build a future that is safer and more affordable for Suffolk County," said Romaine. "We have already taken significant steps since January 1 that serve as cornerstones of this administration, with much more to come."

Key points from County Executive Romaine's address include the following:

- **Strengthening County Finances:** Suffolk County's general obligation bonds received an upgrade from S&P Global Ratings in 2024, and an agreement with the Suffolk Coalition of Public Employees was reached to extend health care benefits, resulting in $100 million in savings over five years. Romaine also announced the establishment of a Centralized Grants Office to secure state and federal funding effectively.

- **Investing in & Prioritizing Public Safety:** New leadership appointments were made in the Suffolk County Police Department, with a focus on enhancing public safety through the addition of law enforcement personnel, new vehicles, and body cameras. Changes were implemented in the Traffic and Parking Violations Bureau to improve operations.

- **Improving County Facilities:** Efforts are underway to enhance unmaintained county facilities, with plans to explore alternatives and potential renovations for various locations, including the Suffolk County Police Headquarters and the Medical Examiner's Office Building.

- **Re-Acquisition of John J. Foley Property in Yaphank:** The County intends to re-acquire the former John J. Foley nursing home property in Yaphank to achieve cost savings and ensure compliance with state laws related to juvenile and adolescent offenders.

- **Cyber Security:** Following a cyberattack in 2022, Suffolk County is focusing on enhancing security measures, including a full audit of related spending, the appointment of a Chief Information Officer/Department of Information Technology Commissioner, and increased resource allocation for cybersecurity.

- **Public Works and Enhancing Infrastructure:** A proposed $489 million capital budget aims to rebuild Suffolk's infrastructure, sewers, parks, and roadways, with investments in sewer projects, road improvements, bridges, and transit.

- **Reforming Social Services:** Immediate actions have been taken to reform the Suffolk County Department of Social Services, including leadership changes and process improvements to enhance service efficiency.

- **Protecting the Environment & Preserving Open Space:** Commitments were made to environmental preservation, farmland protection, and open space preservation, with significant funding allocated to preserve farmland and open spaces in the County.