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Barnstable posts FY2027 proposed budget; ClearGov transparency tools to launch in July
Summary
Town Manager Mark Ells said the FY2027 proposed operating budget is posted online and that the town will replace its open budget site with ClearGov in July, offering interactive visuals and an AI chatbot; public hearings begin June 11 and the first reading of appropriation orders is May 28.
Town Manager Mark Ells said the Barnstable FY2027 proposed operating budget is posted on the town website and that hard copies will be provided to councilors before the public hearing cycle begins June 11, 2026. The first reading of operating budget appropriation orders is scheduled for May 28, Ells said.
Ells said the town will replace its current open budget website with new transparency software from ClearGov in July (FY2027). "The ClearGov solution will offer more robust financial visualization of the town's operating and capital budgets, transforming data into dynamic, interactive visuals for residents to explore the budget at their own pace," he said. Ells added the site will include an "AI-powered chatbot," which the town expects to use to deliver instant responses to common budget questions.
Why it matters: publishing the proposed budget online and adding interactive tools aims to make spending priorities and capital plans easier for residents to review before public hearings. Ells said hard-copy documents will also be supplied to council members in advance of hearings.
What's next: a public hearing cycle on the operating budget begins June 11, 2026; the town will post links and documents on its financial and town manager web pages and notify residents when the ClearGov site goes live.
