SUFFOLK COUNTY — Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine used his 2026 State of the County address to lay out an agenda centered on public safety, fiscal restraint, infrastructure, environmental protection and what he described as the long-term quality of life of Suffolk County residents.
Suffolk News Now attended the address and heard Romaine outline a series of priorities that touched nearly every major area of county government.
Among the biggest announcements was Romaine’s call for a new Suffolk County Police Department headquarters in Yaphank, near the department’s existing facility. He argued that the current building was never designed to serve as a modern police headquarters and said the county needs a facility capable of supporting present-day law-enforcement operations.
The proposal is part of a broader public-safety agenda Romaine highlighted throughout the speech.
He spoke in support of strengthening law enforcement, increasing staffing where needed and continuing to invest in technology, equipment and county resources tied to policing, corrections and probation.
Romaine also pushed back against calls to reduce the role of police and correctional institutions, framing his administration’s approach as one focused on maintaining public safety while improving the systems that support it.
No Increase in County General Taxes
Affordability was another major theme.
Romaine said Suffolk County residents should not expect an increase in county general taxes next year, positioning fiscal restraint as a central part of his administration’s approach.
That pledge comes as Long Island residents continue to face high housing, utility and property-tax costs.
The county portion of a homeowner’s total property-tax bill is only one component, but Romaine emphasized that Suffolk County government should avoid adding to those pressures wherever possible.
New Investments in Public Safety and County Services
Romaine also highlighted plans involving the county’s medical examiner’s office, crime laboratory and environmental laboratory.
He said Suffolk needs modern facilities capable of handling the county’s growing forensic, public-health and environmental testing responsibilities.
Those investments are expected to support both criminal investigations and efforts to identify environmental threats, including contaminants that could affect drinking water.
The speech also touched on child welfare.
Romaine said New York State has approved Suffolk County to create a child welfare review board, and he described protecting children as one of government’s most important responsibilities.
Water Quality and Sewer Expansion
Environmental issues remained a significant part of the address.
Romaine spoke about Suffolk’s continued reliance on cesspools and septic systems and the need to expand sewer infrastructure in areas where wastewater has contributed to water-quality problems.
He pointed to ongoing and planned sewer projects in communities including Holbrook, Oakdale and Smithtown.
For a county surrounded by water and heavily dependent on its underground aquifer, Romaine presented wastewater infrastructure as both an environmental and economic issue.
He also discussed preserving farmland, protecting working waterfronts and continuing county investment in open space.
Parks, Transportation and Infrastructure
Romaine said Suffolk should continue improving its extensive county park system, including upgrades to electrical service, Wi-Fi and camping facilities.
Transportation was another focus.
He called for improvements to public transit and greater use of rail freight as a way to reduce the number of trucks traveling on Suffolk County roads.
That proposal reflects one of the broader challenges facing the county: moving people and goods across a geographically large region while reducing congestion and pressure on local infrastructure.
Looking Ahead
The State of the County address gave Romaine an opportunity to define what he sees as Suffolk’s priorities for the coming year.
His message combined traditional county responsibilities such as policing, public health and infrastructure with longer-term concerns over affordability, environmental protection and the county’s ability to retain working families.
For residents, the most immediate takeaway may be the tax pledge.
For county government, however, Romaine laid out a much broader agenda: modernize public-safety infrastructure, expand sewer systems, protect natural resources, improve parks and transportation and continue investing in the services he says are necessary to keep Suffolk County viable for future generations.
