The Suffolk County Legislature on Wednesday adopted a 2027 operating budget exceeding $4 billion, with legislators saying it prioritizes county services while stabilizing taxes. The budget passed 16-0 on a motion by Budget Chair Legislator Flautering, seconded by Legislator Thorn.
Legislator Flautering, presenting the budget, said the county has improved its financial standing compared with other counties statewide. "We're not the worst financially managed anymore," he said, citing recent bond rating upgrades and growing reserves.
The legislature also approved a companion discretionary budget resolution and two technical amendments, both passing 16-0. One amendment corrected a mismatch between the Vanderbilt Museum's budgeted hotel-motel tax revenue and the amount it actually receives, according to a budget review office staffer identified as Benny. The other increased permanent salaries at the Board of Elections so it can hire additional employees.
Legislators voted 16-0 to discharge a county mortgage tied to a workforce housing project built about 15 years ago with Eastern Property Investors Consultants LLC. The legislature's counsel, identified as Duffy, described the move as "housekeeping," explaining the county holds the mortgage only to enforce compliance with workforce housing requirements.
The legislature approved, 16-0, a new five-year labor agreement with the Suffolk County Association of Municipal Employees covering bargaining units 2 and 6 as well as a non-union salary plan, running from Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2029. AME President Terry Macro told legislators during public comment that the agreement was "a first step in the right direction toward rectifying over 20 years of neglect and diminishing morale," though he said recruitment and retention problems remain.
The minority leader thanked colleagues, including Legislator Donnelly and Legislator Mazzarella, for their work on the AME contract alongside the county executive's office.
The legislature voted 15-1 to appropriate $53,881,487 in opioid settlement funds, as recommended by the opioid settlement funding selection committee. Legislator Hannon cast the lone dissenting vote, saying "I am not supporting this because I believe that more of these dollars should go into supporting nonprofit infrastructure," while thanking the committee for its work.