BARNSTABLE – According to town manager Mark Ells, the town of Barnstable’s budgeting process for fiscal year 2018 has begun.
Ells said that he met with the school superintendent and agreed to proceed with a 60/40 split of projected FY 2018 revenues.
He has also sent out instructions to each of the town’s department heads as they formulate their operating and capital budgets.
“It’s pretty much a constant dialogue, 12 months a year,” Ells said. “We probably start planning each fiscal year budget about 18 months before approval.”
The town heads will examine the councilors’ strategic plan to ensure the use of resources is prioritized appropriately.
Ells said much of Barnstable’s budgeting is done on a five-year cycle, but approvals come on an annual basis.
He said the town’s long history of economic stability comes from strong leadership and a capable management team.
“We prioritize based on needs in our community. While we can’t do everything, we stick to the priorities,” he said.