Suffolk County Budget: Candidates Outline Plans for $4.3 Billion Ledger

Dan Losquadro and Jon Estreich presented their strategies for managing Suffolk County's $4.3 billion budget ahead of the November 3 election.

The comptroller role functions as the county's chief financial officer, charged with auditing government spending and overseeing financial operations. Both candidates agreed on the need to identify waste and improve accountability, though their methods for engaging with county leadership differ.

Estreich, a former Suffolk County prosecutor and investigative attorney for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Office of Inspector General, prioritizes independent oversight. He argued that the office must serve as a check on the county executive and legislature, particularly during periods of one-party control. His experience investigating complex procurements, including an inquiry into locomotive engine purchases that ruled out bid-rigging, informed his approach to examining county contracts for fraud and abuse.

Losquadro, who served as Brookhaven's highway superintendent for more than 13 years, emphasized his executive experience in managing a large municipal department. His background also includes a decade at State Farm Insurance, where he worked as a fraud investigator, and prior service in the Suffolk County Legislature and New York State Assembly. He highlighted his work modernizing the Brookhaven Highway Department, shifting operations from paper to electronic systems and ensuring compliance with public bidding and prevailing wage requirements.

Estreich proposed auditing no-bid and sole-source contracts, reviewing payroll for no-show jobs, and protecting whistleblowers. He also called for a searchable, real-time spending dashboard to allow residents to track county funds. "When we have a real-time spending dashboard, you can see where all the money goes," Estreich said. He noted that greater transparency could help restore public trust and that waste, fraud, and abuse directly cost taxpayers money.

Losquadro focused on streamlining services and improving vendor payments. He stated that electronic tracking in Brookhaven has enabled faster payments after major events like snowstorms, a process he believes the county should adopt to reduce costs. He proposed eliminating "pipeline debt" by closing out completed or abandoned capital projects and reviewing unspent bond proceeds. "I think we can do a lot to streamline our services," Losquadro said. He also advocated for promoting the county's fraud hotline and examining hotel and motel tax collection from short-term rentals on the East End.

On independence, Losquadro stated that his relationships with county leaders would allow for collaborative work without compromising his authority as an elected official. Estreich, a major in the U.S. Army Reserve's Judge Advocate General's Corps, said his military and legal background reinforced the importance of accountability. Both candidates said they would be judged by the results of their financial scrutiny.