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County Commissioners to Fight Assembly Cuts to Town Services

Published on: May 26, 2022

Information from the Barnstable County Board of Regional Commissioners

Commissioners to Outline Next Steps to Honor Service Agreements to All Towns on June 1

May 26, 2022 (Barnstable, MA) – The Barnstable County Commissioners vowed to keep fighting to secure sufficient funds to operate the region’s Information Technology (IT) program, which provides a host of services for municipal governments on Cape Cod, including proposed new IT services to the Towns of Bourne and Harwich that were scheduled to start on July 1.

“We are very disappointed in the Assembly’s decision to make cuts to a range of critical county services, especially our IT services that many Cape towns depend on for their municipal operations. We are still very much opposed to the cuts impacting the Towns of Bourne and Harwich. We will continue to work diligently in the coming weeks to secure those funds.” said Sheila Lyons, Chairman of the Board of Regional Commissioners. “It is critical that the County honors all its service agreements to Cape towns.”

Last night, the Assembly of Delegates voted to override the Barnstable County Commissioner’s rejection of their proposed FY23 budget. The County Commissioners rejected their proposal because it included cuts in several critical areas. The Commissioners expressed grave concern over cuts to the regional Information Technology program, which provides services to Cape towns and generates revenue for the county. The Commissioners had previously worked out a plan to provide additional services to Bourne and Harwich.

The Assembly’s action last night will end this regional partnership. The County Commissioners vowed to fight the cuts to honor all service contracts. They will discuss their plans at their next meeting on Wednesday, June 1.

The other reasons the Commissioners rejected the Assembly proposal –

  1. The Assembly did not provide the required disclosures outlining the specific reasons they disagree with the budget recommendations of the This information is essential to maintaining openness and transparency in the budget process and is required by the County Charter.
  2. The Commissioners strongly disagree with the Assembly’s statements that the Commissioners are proposing an 11% increase in the budget. This is simply untrue. The Commissioner’s proposed budget increase is 6.4% and includes significant offsetting revenues. Given the huge increase in energy, heating, insurance, and other costs, the budget is totally within other municipal operations budgets across the Cape.
  3. The Assembly’s proposed reductions in capacity in the Resource Development Office will make it very difficult for Barnstable County and Cape Cod towns to pursue billions of dollars in federal and state funding being made available for regional and local infrastructure projects –including funds for wastewater projects, PFAS and other groundwater pollution remediation projects, and broadband and affordable housing initiatives.
  4. The Assembly proposal impairs the management of the AmeriCorps Cape Cod
  5. The Assembly proposal will prevent the Commissioners from strengthening internal financial controls recommended in previous audit reports

ABOUT BARNSTABLE COUNTY REGIONAL GOVERNMENT OF CAPE COD Barnstable County provides exemplary government functions and services to keep our community healthy and safe, promote sustainable growth, and offer a proactive, open government that enhances the quality of life for the citizens of Barnstable County. Learn more at www.barnstablecounty.org