Suffolk's $4.3B budget passes, with taxpayers set to pay more in property taxes

The Suffolk County Legislature on Wednesday approved County Executive Edward P. Romaine’s $4.3 billion 2026 budget that raises taxes and continues to invest in public safety.

The legislature approved the budget in a 16-0 vote during a special meeting in Hauppauge. Legis. Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga) abstained and Legis. Trish Bergin (R-East Islip) was absent. The budget rises about 5.2% from the current $4 billion, with additional costs attributed to increased employee benefits and services.

"This is a good budget and we look forward to continuing to serve the people of Suffolk County with this kind of fiscal stability," said Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey (R-Lindenhurst).

The budget stays within the state-mandated tax cap and includes a 3.18% property tax increase, which falls under the maximum of 3.25%, according to a report from the legislature’s nonpartisan Budget Review Office. The property tax increase is approximately $500,000 less than allowed under the tax cap.

Trotta was skeptical of the tax hike falling below the acceptable limit, questioning whether the budget would have remained under the tax cap if not for the creation of a countywide Wastewater Management District starting Jan. 1 that merges all current sewer districts into one. The change means homeowners connected to sewers receive an invoice rather than a tax bill charge, resulting in $23.7 million in property taxes collected in 2025 no longer carrying over to the 2026 budget, according to the BRO report.

Benny Pernice, deputy director of the BRO, said the budget would have been above the cap without the sewer district change, "but the two actions together, they’re underneath."

Deputy Presiding Officer Steven Flotteron (R-Brightwaters), who led the operating budget committee that pored over the spending plan, described a collaborative process between the county executive and legislators to produce what he described as a "great, sound budget."

The committee heard from several department heads about staffing vacancies as low salaries for starting positions present a hurdle to recruitment and retention.

Legis. Jason Richberg (D-West Babylon), the minority leader, also described a collaborative process "where everybody had a voice in making sure this document represents all of our perspectives and values as a county."

The BRO concluded the budget was "generally reasonable" and notes the county has "considerable reserves" to face potential economic uncertainty on the national level and possible shortfalls in sales tax revenue.

The report also notes "difficult decisions will be required to preserve these reserves while meeting projected expenditure growth in 2027 and beyond."

The budget includes an additional $82 million in expenses for the Employee Medical Health Plan, a 12% increase on top of a 14% increase from 2024 to the current budget. That cost will be offset by a $67.6 million surplus in the EMHP fund, an option that "may not be available next year," according to the BRO report.

In Romaine’s budget summary delivered to legislators by the Sept. 19 deadline, he said public safety is "at the forefront" of the budget and also focuses on expanding access to affordable housing and making additional investments in mental health services.

"It is a forward-looking budget that balances fiscal caution with bold investments in our people and our communities," he wrote.

The budget is expected to take effect Jan. 1.

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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