Suffolk County, New York 

Recovery Plan 

State and Local Fiscal Recovery 

Funds 

2021 Report 

August 31, 2021 
Suffolk County, New York 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 1

Suffolk County, New York 

2021 Recovery Plan 

Table of Contents 

General Overview ...................................................................................................................... 2 

Executive Summary ................................................................................................................. 2 

Uses of Funds ......................................................................................................................... ..3

Promoting Equitable Outcomes ............................................................................................... ..4

Community Engagement ......................................................................................................... 4 

Labor Practices ....................................................................................................................... 4 

Use of Evidence ...................................................................................................................... ..5

Table of Expenses by Expenditure Category ........................................................................... .5

Project Inventory ....................................................................................................................... 7 

Ineligible Activities: Tax Offset Provision .............................................................................. 7
Suffolk County, New York 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 2

GENERAL OVERVIEW 

Executive Summary 

Suffolk County, New York was severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the County 

having the highest positive COVID-19 case total in the state outside of the five boroughs of 

the City of New York. County employees have been at the forefront of public health, wellbeing and safety responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Employees from a wide range of 

county departments have been dispatched to assist with various pandemic-related responses 

including supplementing the 311 one-stop assistance call-center, investigating COVID-19 

cases reported to the county Health Department, contact tracing, running testing and 

vaccination sites across the county, inspecting businesses during shutdown and reopening 

and enforcement of various state mandates related to masks, gathering limits and other point 

in time allowable activities 

The County was allotted about $286 million in funds from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) 

through State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF), up to $244 million of which will be 

allocated to government services from Revenue Loss. The County has thus far obligated 

$71.3 million of ARP funding from Revenue Loss for the provision of government services 

including the restoration of budget cuts in the 2021 Adopted Budget. This included, but was 

not limited to funding for the prevention of layoffs within the county workforce, critical public 

safety, social, cultural and health services funding, as well as the funding needed to avoid 

reductions of some public transportation services. 

Restoring government service funding allows the County to continue its robust response to 

the pandemic. Due to the spread of the highly-contagious Delta variant, the County may have 

to utilize some ARP funds to promote and execute the rollout of additional vaccine doses, per 

CDC recommendations and in light of the FDA fully authorizing the Pfizer-BioTech vaccine. 

Given the substantial economic impacts that the pandemic has inflicted on small businesses, 

workforce development and retention, we anticipate that ARP funds may be utilized to assist 

in the continuation of the recovery of the local economy as well as the effects on our own 

workforce. 

With the funds from SLFRF providing the largest federal government investment to local 

governments in recent history, there is an opportunity to accelerate our economic recovery by 

using a portion of the ARP funds to address critical infrastructure needs of the County. The 

start of construction for the largest investment in sewer infrastructure in the County in more 

than 40 years is expected to begin this fall. Three major sewer projects will connect over 

5,500 residential parcels along critical river corridors to sewer services, thereby eliminating 

the use of the existing cesspool and septic systems, which have been identified as the primary 

source of nitrogen pollution in the surrounding bay areas. 

. 
Suffolk County, New York 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 3

Uses of Funds 

a. Public Health (EC 1) The County continues to provide resources to address the 

COVID-19 pandemic, and these efforts will be ongoing. However as we learned 

through the rapid preparation and ongoing response to COVID-19, the County will 

follow data to derive policies to address next steps and has not yet determined if the 

use of ARP funds for these efforts will be required. 

b. Negative Economic Impacts (EC 2): The County is in the process of determining 

programs to enhance assistance to financially impacted small businesses. Details and 

monetary amounts dedicated to this endeavor are to be determined. 

c. Services to Disproportionately Impacted Communities (EC 3): Funding from SLFRF 

has enabled the County to maintain and utilize its workforce to respond to specific 

community needs related to the pandemic. The County provided approximately 9,600 

free tests in underserved communities that were dealing with outbreaks of COVID 19 

and focused on setting up additional pop-up vaccination sites in areas of the County 

with below average vaccination rates. In addition to testing and vaccination services, 

the County also offered informational services regarding benefits access, books, food, 

masks, hand sanitizer and shelter, in some cases for those who required isolation and 

had compromised housing situations. The County created the Suffolk Cares Mobile 

Food Delivery program as an emergency protective measure to provide food to meet 

the immediate needs of those individuals and families who did not have access to 

immediate transportation resources and were in need of food as a result of COVID. 

The County also funded a media campaign and offered vaccine incentives including 

free Lyft rides to vaccination sites. These endeavors, while not funded through ARP, 

did include targeted outreach to disproportionately impacted communities, including 

majority minority populations, disabled/senior residents, teens and low-income 

community members. 

d. Premium Pay (EC 4): Not applicable at this time.

e. Water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure (EC 5): The County is in the process of 

completing three major sewer infrastructure projects, totaling $520 million and will be 

using a portion of SLFRF to complete one of these initiatives. The County anticipates 

that approximately 1,264 jobs will be created during this process. In addition, an 

estimated $814.2 million in economic output will come as a result of these projects.

f. Revenue Replacement (EC 6): Funding from SLFRF was used to for the provision of 

government services to the amount of $71,268,670 including for the following:

o Permanent salaries and overtime pay. 

o Public bus transportation routes. 

o Suffolk County Police Department and Office of the Sheriff to backfill vacancies 

created by numerous retirements. 
Suffolk County, New York 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 4

o Local community organizations that provide critical services to residents, 

including domestic violence services, food pantries, substance abuse 

programs and youth programs. 

o Town and village law enforcement agencies. 

o Cultural arts organizations and local chambers of commerce geared toward 

increasing tourism to the region. 

Promoting equitable outcomes 

Previous County vaccination and testing programs included numerous, specific strategies to 

increase testing and vaccination rates among disadvantaged and hard-to-reach residents, those 

in congregate living such as shelters and incarcerated individuals, first responders and veterans, 

as well as our county workforce of approximately 8,600. For example, the County established a 

mobile vaccine program for residents confined to their homes. Any resident over age 18 who was 

homebound, could call 311 and schedule an appointment for a Suffolk County Public Health nurse 

to come to the resident’s home and administer a vaccine. To date, 634 of the county’s most 

vulnerable residents were vaccinated through this program. Prior to vaccine availability, the 

County also offered on-site testing for employees and administered approximately 13,000 Covid19 tests which enabled our workforce to maintain essential services the public relied on. The 

County is committed to ensuring that any future programs will prioritize equity, in a similar fashion 

to our previous and ongoing efforts to provide vaccines and testing to underserved communities. 

Community Engagement 

From the start of the pandemic, the county prioritized community engagement by quickly 

establishing one-stop website pages with specialized industry needs and feedback surveys, 

resource and contact information posted for all residents and businesses to engage with County 

officials. The County ensured that this information was accessible in multiple languages to ensure 

all residents had access to resources. In addition, the County Executive, Steve Bellone, held 

daily press conferences via local media outlets and Facebook live, numerous County officials 

also engaged with first responders and essential employees in a variety of industries including 

residents, business owners, school administrators and other community leaders, non-profit 

organizations, unions and other stakeholders via traditional and expansive social media sites and 

County Legislative meetings quickly transitioned to web based meetings whereby stakeholders 

are able to call-in, zoom-in or email comments. The County is committed to continuing community 

engagement and feedback for all future programs. 

Labor Practices 

The County has entered into a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) to guide construction of the 

treatment facility for the Forge River Sewer District, which will be funded in part using ARP funds. 

This will ensure that this important infrastructure project will utilize strong labor standards to 

promote effective and efficient delivery of high-quality sewers, while also supporting the economic 

recovery through strong employment opportunities for workers. The County will follow all 

applicable Federal rules for labor practices when using ARP funds for the projects. 
Suffolk County, New York 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 5

Use of Evidence 

Not applicable at this time. 

Table of Expenses by Expenditure Category 

Category Cumulative

expenditures to 

date ($) 

Amount spent 

since last 

Recovery Plan 

1 Expenditure Category: Public Health 

1.1 COVID-19 Vaccination N/A N/A

1.2 COVID-19 Testing N/A N/A

1.3 COVID-19 Contact Tracing N/A N/A

1.4 Prevention in Congregate Settings (Nursing 

Homes, Prisons/Jails, Dense Work Sites, 

Schools, etc.) 

N/A N/A

1.5 Personal Protective Equipment N/A N/A

1.6 Medical Expenses (including Alternative Care 

Facilities) 

N/A N/A

1.7 Capital Investments or Physical Plant Changes 

to Public Facilities that respond to the COVID19 public health emergency 

N/A N/A

1.8 Other COVID-19 Public Health Expenses 

(including Communications, Enforcement, 

Isolation/Quarantine) 

N/A N/A

1.9 Payroll Costs for Public Health, Safety, and 

Other Public Sector Staff Responding to 

COVID-19 

N/A N/A

1.10 Mental Health Services N/A N/A

1.11 Substance Use Services N/A N/A

1.12 Other Public Health Services N/A N/A

2 Expenditure Category: Negative Economic 

Impacts 

2.1 Household Assistance: Food Programs N/A N/A

2.2 Household Assistance: Rent, Mortgage, and 

Utility Aid 

N/A N/A

2.3 Household Assistance: Cash Transfers N/A N/A

2.4 Household Assistance: Internet Access 

Programs 

N/A N/A

2.5 Household Assistance: Eviction Prevention N/A N/A

2.6 Unemployment Benefits or Cash Assistance to 

Unemployed Workers 

N/A N/A

2.7 Job Training Assistance (e.g., Sectoral jobtraining, Subsidized Employment, Employment 

Supports or Incentives) 

N/A N/A
Suffolk County, New York 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 6

Category Cumulative

expenditures to 

date ($) 

Amount spent 

since last 

Recovery Plan 

2.8 Contributions to UI Trust Funds* N/A N/A

2.9 Small Business Economic Assistance (General) N/A N/A

2.10 Aid to nonprofit organizations N/A N/A

2.11 Aid to Tourism, Travel, or Hospitality N/A N/A

2.12 Aid to Other Impacted Industries N/A N/A

2.13 Other Economic Support N/A N/A

2.14 Rehiring Public Sector Staff N/A N/A

3 Expenditure Category: Services to 

Disproportionately Impacted Communities 

3.1 Education Assistance: Early Learning N/A N/A

3.2 Education Assistance: Aid to High-Poverty 

Districts 

N/A N/A

3.3 Education Assistance: Academic Services N/A N/A

3.4 Education Assistance: Social, Emotional, and 

Mental Health Services 

N/A N/A

3.5 Education Assistance: Other N/A N/A

3.6 Healthy Childhood Environments: Child Care N/A N/A

3.7 Healthy Childhood Environments: Home Visiting N/A N/A

3.8 Healthy Childhood Environments: Services to 

Foster Youth or Families Involved in Child 

Welfare System 

N/A N/A

3.9. Healthy Childhood Environments: Other N/A N/A

3.10 Housing Support: Affordable Housing N/A N/A

3.11 Housing Support: Services for Unhoused 

persons 

N/A N/A

3.12 Housing Support: Other Housing Assistance N/A N/A

3.13 Social Determinants of Health: Other N/A N/A

3.14 Social Determinants of Health: Community 

Health Workers or Benefits Navigators 

N/A N/A

3.15 Social Determinants of Health: Lead 

Remediation 

N/A N/A

3.16 Social Determinants of Health: Community 

Violence Interventions 

N/A N/A

4 Expenditure Category: Premium Pay 

4.1 Public Sector Employees N/A N/A

4.2 Private Sector: Grants to other employers N/A N/A

5 Expenditure Category: Infrastructure 

5.1 Clean Water: Centralized wastewater treatment N/A N/A

5.2 Clean Water: Centralized wastewater collection 

and conveyance 

N/A N/A

5.3 Clean Water: Decentralized wastewater N/A N/A

5.4 Clean Water: Combined sewer overflows N/A N/A
Suffolk County, New York 2021 Recovery Plan Performance Report 7

Category Cumulative

expenditures to 

date ($) 

Amount spent 

since last 

Recovery Plan 

5.5 Clean Water: Other sewer infrastructure N/A N/A

5.6 Clean Water: Stormwater N/A N/A

5.7 Clean Water: Energy conservation N/A N/A

5.8 Clean Water: Water conservation N/A N/A

5.9 Clean Water: Nonpoint source N/A N/A

5.10 Drinking water: Treatment N/A N/A

5.11 Drinking water: Transmission & distribution N/A N/A

5.12 Drinking water: Transmission & distribution: 

lead remediation 

N/A N/A

5.13 Drinking water: Source N/A N/A

5.14 Drinking water: Storage N/A N/A

5.15 Drinking water: Other water infrastructure N/A N/A

5.16 Broadband: “Last Mile” projects N/A N/A

5.17 Broadband: Other projects N/A N/A

6 Expenditure Category: Revenue Replacement 

6.1 Provision of Government Services $5,459,494 $5,459,494

7 Administrative and Other 

7.1 Administrative Expenses N/A N/A

7.2 Evaluation and data analysis N/A N/A

7.3 Transfers to Other Units of Government N/A N/A

7.4 Transfers to Nonentitlement Units 

(States and Territories only) 

N/A N/A

Project Inventory – Not yet applicable 

Ineligible Activities: Tax Offset Provision (States and territories only) 

For the initial reporting year, States and territories will report the following items related to the 

Tax Offset Provision 31 CFR 35.8. Baseline revenue or revenue-increasing covered charges 

are not required at this time. 

Item Amount

a. Revenue-reducing Covered Changes $ N/A 

See Section C(11) on page 28 of the Reporting Guidance for additional information.