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Committee backs $200,000 indirect-rate study after debate on retiree-health cushion
Summary
The finance committee voted 5-0 to recommend that the assembly allocate $200,000 (in category D) for an indirect-rate study, financed by fringe-benefit reductions; members debated leaving an extra $37,000 in retiree health insurance as a cushion against uncertain retiree counts.
The Barnstable County Finance Committee voted unanimously to recommend that the full assembly fund a $200,000 indirect-rate study to refine how shared costs are allocated across county departments.
Treasurer/Director Coppola told the committee that health-insurance savings across the general fund totaled about $237,000; she proposed reducing the retiree health-insurance line to free $200,000 for a study while leaving approximately $37,000 in the retiree account. "The total for health insurance ... actually totals is $237,000. The ordinance before you is for $200,000," Coppola said.
Delegate Freizel and others asked whether the extra $37,000 should instead be used to lower the overall budget. Administrator Ed Dutton urged caution about reducing retiree health funding too far because retiree counts and insurance costs can change: "We want to make sure that we've got a little bit of flexibility in that line item," Dutton said. Members ultimately approved a motion to recommend the $200,000 allocation and the accompanying fringe reductions on a 5-0 roll call.
Members said they expect to follow the study with further work on compensation and shared-cost methodology; the proposed FY2027 budget also includes $40,000 for a compensation study. The recommendation will be forwarded to the full assembly for final action.
