Town of Barnstable

Barnstable is the commercial, transportation, and healthcare hub of Cape Cod, and the Town has held a AAA rating from S&P Global Ratings since 2007. That rating reflects a long record of conservative budgeting, strong reserves, and a growing tax base.

Our property tax base reached $26.2 billion in FY2026, double its value ten years ago. Our FY2025 tax levy was $468 million below the Proposition 2½ levy ceiling, leaving significant unused taxing capacity. We collected 99% of the FY2025 tax levy within the fiscal year.

We plan ahead. Each spring the Town adopts a five-year capital improvement plan alongside its operating budget. At the end of FY2025, unassigned General Fund balance stood at $70.3 million, or 34% of General Fund expenditures. Separately, we hold $29.7 million in stabilization funds and dedicated reserves for wastewater, OPEB, and capital needs.

Barnstable has received the GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting every year since FY2002 and the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award every year since FY2002.

This site gives investors direct access to our audited financial statements, budgets, capital plans, official statements, and rating reports. If you have questions, please contact me or Treasurer/Collector Sean O’Brien directly.

Mark Milne, Director of Finance