Beaty Votes Against ‘Irresponsible’ and ‘Bloated’ County Budget

“Beaty Votes Against ‘Irresponsible’ and ‘Bloated’ FY’21 Barnstable County Budget”

Barnstable, Cape Cod: Thursday, May 14, 2020 - Barnstable County Commissioner Ron Beaty this week voted against the FY'21 County Budget Ordinances which in total will amount to close to $30 Million in expenditure of public funds in the next fiscal year.

Beaty stated, "Amid the current State of Emergency and Coronavirus Pandemic, 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."

Beaty continued, “With most local municipalities facing a 30% revenue shortfall later this year, and the fact that the County Registry of Deeds is reporting 50% less activity compared to one year ago, it is clearly irresponsible for our Cape Cod Regional Government to present an FY’21 Budget that exceeds the previous year’s budget as if carrying on with business as usual.”

Beaty elaborated, "With that said, it is my contention that either the County Commissioners or the Assembly of Delegates should have instituted sensible cuts which needed to be made to the proposed FY '21 Budget in order to keep it 'level funded' compared to prior years, while at the same time maintaining the respective services provided to the fifteen towns of the County by our Cape Cod Regional Government."

“This was not done.” said Beaty

Beaty opined, “Most outlooks presented by county officials have been overly optimistic and actually unrealistic in these precarious times. We are entering into unprecedented economic territory, and really should have a County Budget that prepares for the worst, but hopes for the best. However, instead we have an approved budget that is bloated and does a disservice to our constituency, the people and towns of Cape Cod.”

Beaty summed up, "For the reasons stated, I find that as a fiscal and government watchdog, I had no choice but to vote in opposition to the bloated FY'21 County Budget as presented at our Wednesday, May 13th Board of Regional Commissioners Meeting."

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