Barnstable County closes FY2025 with positive revenues and reserves; finance director flags long-term liabilities

Carol Coppola, Barnstable County finance director, presented the county’s fiscal year 2025 results on Aug. 27, reporting nearly $84 million in cash across 21 cash accounts and a strengthened set of stabilization funds. "We finalized the year with just under $84,000,000 in cash, over, among 21 funds," she said, and noted efforts to consolidate funds and reduce administrative complexity.

Coppola reported a general-fund revenue surplus driven in part by higher-than-budgeted registry of deeds revenues (just under $4 million) and departmental turnbacks totaling roughly $2.2 million. The county established a $13.9 million revenue stabilization fund and concluded the fiscal year with an unaudited undesignated general-fund balance of just under $11 million.

The Cape Cod Commission and the dredge enterprise fund showed improved positions: the dredge fund posted revenue above expenditures and added to retained earnings, reducing prior concerns about deficits. Coppola said accounts receivable at fiscal year end were unusually low and that auditors were on site for the county audit.

Commissioners and staff commended departments for avoiding year-end spending surges and for improved budget transparency. Several commissioners noted the need to address long-term liabilities — referenced in the meeting as substantial — and asked staff to develop a plan for near-term and multi-year liability management. Coppola said long-term liabilities remain and the county will plan accordingly; no specific liabilities were reduced at the meeting.

The board accepted the report and asked for follow-up work on liabilities and on continued improvements to the budget process.