County Administrator Michael Dutton presented a revised timeline and process for the FY27 budget to the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates on Nov. 19, 2025, telling members the changes aim to reduce the workload on department heads by separating capital and operating budget messaging.

Dutton said departmental budget requests are expected by Dec. 5 and that he will present the consolidated operating budget to the commissioners in late January (he cited Jan. 20 or Jan. 28 as likely presentation dates). He described a plan to present the county's operating budget in a single sitting to the commissioners rather than asking them to meet weekly for department-by-department reviews, and said the assembly will retain opportunities for deeper dives into particular departments during the FebruaryApril review period.

On anticipated costs, Dutton told delegates the county is "projecting potential increases in health insurance premiums potentially at 25%," while suggesting a more likely range of 12'15%. He said the county participates in the Cape Cod Municipal Health Group and that towns and the county are tracking reserves and program choices that may alter the final impact; delegates asked when increases would take effect and whether reserves would be used to smooth costs.

Dutton described the county's revenue picture as driven largely by town assessments and fees collected at the Registry of Deeds; he said registry receipts have historically been conservatively estimated but have recently outpaced expectations. Regarding federal grants, Dutton said the county has generally fared well but will keep a close eye on discretionary grants (noting AmeriCorps funding had a turbulent recent history).

Dutton also flagged an anticipated supplemental budget request: roughly $170,000 to renovate lower-level space in the Registry of Deeds building to serve as temporary swing space for Finance and IT while the Superior Court building undergoes exterior renovation and occupants are relocated. He said the supplemental ordinance must be referred to the Finance Committee under assembly rules before the assembly can act.

Dutton reported other items from the commissioners' recent meeting, including a roughly $200,000 set of wildfire-prevention grants and work on PFAS remediation and municipal fire training, and said commissioners plan to hold rotating meetings in towns beginning in January to improve local engagement.

The administration invited questions and said it will provide more detailed revenue figures as registry numbers are finalized; delegates asked about timing, federal grant certainty and the use of reserves to cover potential premium spikes.