Commissioner Beaty Takes Exception with County Budget Increases

Based upon the fiscal data, budgetary overview and detailed information provided to the Barnstable County Board of Regional Commissioners by County staff today, speaking as only one individual County Commissioner, it is my initial assessment that an overall budget increase of 3% from last year’s $28 Million County budget, as well as a 17% increase specifically for the County Commissioners’ Office itself are simply non-starters and not acceptable to me.

As public servants, we have a fiduciary duty to maintain fiscal responsibility and budgetary constraint as part of remaining transparent and accountable to the voters, taxpayers and residents of Cape Cod. With that said, it is my contention at this initial juncture that cuts likely need to be made to the proposed FY ’21 Budget in order to keep it “level funded” compared to the prior year as well as to maintain the respective services provided to the fifteen towns of the County by our Cape Cod Regional Government.

Thank you.

Best regards,

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RONALD BEATY

Barnstable County Commissioner