Romaine releases $897 million capital spending proposal for Suffolk

Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine unveiled an $897 million proposed capital budget for 2027 that funds a new medical examiner building, sewer upgrades and other infrastructure projects.

A larger three-year capital program for 2027-29 includes about $3 billion in investments, a nearly identical figure compared with a previously adopted plan.

The proposed 2027 spending plan, which allows the government to plan long-term public works projects, represents a 15% increase in total cost compared with the adopted 2026 capital budget. The capital budget is separate from the operating budget that is due in the fall.

Romaine told Newsday the budget focuses on "infrastructure needs that have been neglected for so long."

"It’s investing in the future of Suffolk County," he said.

The proposed 2027 budget includes $208 million in sewer upgrades, $200 million toward a transportation hub on the south side of the Ronkonkoma Long Island Rail Road station and $128 million in various road, bridge, sidewalk and public transit projects.

The proposed 2027 budget also includes $185 million toward a new medical examiner building, a 144,000 square foot facility that will feature "significant improvements to ventilation, security, physical workflows and labs," according to the budget. The current building was built in the late 1980s and officials have said its infrastructure is beyond repair.

In February 2025, the legislature authorized a $20 million bond for design and engineering costs. The Department of Public Works recommended constructing a new building at the current Hauppauge site after studying six options.

Work has already started at the site and full construction is expected to begin in 2027. The targeted completion is 2029, according to the budget.

The budget also highlights the new Smith Point Bridge, which connects Shirley to the eastern end of Fire Island over Narrow Bay. Construction on the bridge is expected to begin this spring, officials recently said. The project is funded 80% through federal aid.

In his introduction to the budget, Romaine, a Republican in his third year, said it "supports farmland preservation, the expansion of recreational assets, and strategic investments in downtown business districts and other key economic areas that promote growth and revitalization."

Presiding Officer Anthony Piccirillo (R-Holbrook) told Newsday the legislature will form a working group to review the proposed budget. Those meetings will begin in May after the legislature’s budget review office issues an analysis.

"We definitely want to prioritize important projects," he said, citing coastal resiliency projects as one example.

Piccirillo said he plans to serve as the chair of the working group. 

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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