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Barnstable manager warns of fiscal shortfall and outlines options including possible tax override
Summary
Town Manager Mark Els told residents Barnstable cannot rely on reserves indefinitely and said officials will present balancing options — from cutting services and raising fees to pursuing tax override debt exclusions — as the council examines fiscal policy.
Mark Els, Barnstable town manager, said the town is ‘‘navigating a significant fiscal challenge’’ and can no longer rely on using reserves to balance its operating budget.
Els told listeners the town is considering a range of balancing measures that the town manager and Finance Director will review with the Town Council, including reductions to public services, increases in local fees and pursuing tax override debt exclusions. He said the town also needs to identify new revenue streams — for example, water‑infrastructure investment funds or tax overrides — to bridge gaps between operating and capital needs.
Why it matters: Els said the town relies heavily on property taxes, but local revenue is constrained by state limits. The options being considered would affect services, fees or the property tax rate and could require voter approval if a debt exclusion is pursued.
Els also noted administrative steps residents can expect: the town has processed preliminary 2026–27 real estate and personal property tax bills, calculated at 50% of the total assessed for July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026. He said first installments are due August 3 and second installments are due November 2; payment options include mail, online or in person and taxpayers with questions can call the tax office at (508) 862-4054.
The town’s budget transparency program is posted on the town website under the Finance division; Els said it includes detailed data on revenues, expenditures, demographics and approved fiscal‑year 2027 capital projects and will be refined over the coming months.
Els asked residents to follow and participate in the council’s review of fiscal policy and revenue strategy, calling the work ‘‘a priority for our community.’’
Els also used the town‑manager portion of the update to raise two quality‑of‑life topics: growing complaints about leaf‑blower noise and recent state action on micro‑mobility. He described a neighborhood etiquette approach for leaf blowers (weekdays 8 a.m.–6 p.m.; weekends 9 a.m.–6 p.m.) and urged respectful use rather than immediate local regulation. He summarized recently filed state legislation to strengthen safety and regulation of e‑bikes, scooters and mopeds and said the town will run public‑education efforts about safe operation off sidewalks.
Next steps: Town staff and the Finance Director will present detailed balancing measures to the Town Council for review; residents were asked to follow council materials and participate in the upcoming deliberations.
