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Finance committee recommends $20 million Barnstable County Aqua Fund borrowing to assembly
Summary
The committee unanimously recommended that the full assembly approve a supplemental FY2026 borrowing authorization of up to $20 million for the Barnstable County Aqua Fund, a request tied to possible Massachusetts Clean Water Trust support; the committee asked for small technical edits to ordinance language and for staff to supply loan breakdowns.
The County Assembly of Delegates Standing Committee on Finance on a unanimous vote recommended that the full assembly approve Proposed Ordinance 2026-07 authorizing up to $20 million in borrowing for the Barnstable County Aqua Fund, a financing request made in anticipation of support from the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust (MCWT). Chair Omen chaired the remote session.
Finance Director Copela said the $20 million figure reflects estimates of communities’ planned sewer and septic projects and that the county has not yet filed an application with MCWT; the amount is a request, not a commitment of state or federal funds. Copela described Aqua Fund lending tiers that vary by household income and project type, with loans offered to homeowners at 0%, 2% or 4% interest depending on eligibility. She said the state revolving fund lends to Barnstable County at 0%; the county in turn issues loans to homeowners, and principal repayments go back into a county Aqua Fund special revenue account while interest income is used to support program administration.
Deputy Speaker Fisel and other members asked whether the Aqua Fund borrowing would affect the county’s bond rating; Copela said the borrowing is not a general-fund obligation and is secured by betterments on benefited properties. She said she was not aware of prior defaults. Copela reported that in 2025 principal repayments into the program totaled just under $3.3 million and interest payments totaled $431,000, and that the standard loan term is 20 years.
Deputy Speaker Fryel moved that the committee recommend approval of the borrowing as part of the FY2026 supplemental budget; the motion was seconded and passed on a roll call (Deputy Speaker Fisel, Delegate Gallagher, Vice Chair Killian, Delegate Ali and Chair Omen voted yes). Committee members requested that the clerk prepare a redlined version of a few technical ordinance citations (including correcting section references and defining the term “Applicant”) and asked staff to supply a breakdown of loans by type (sewer connection versus septic repair).
The committee also noted that any technical edits to ordinance wording would need review by bond counsel and the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust. The recommendation now goes to the full assembly for consideration; the clerk said a redlined ordinance and requested data will be circulated before that vote.
