Dukes County is set to receive more than $3.3 million in federal coronavirus relief funding — a hefty windfall nearly the double size of the county’s annual budget.
Dukes County is set to receive more than $3.3 million in federal coronavirus relief funding — a hefty windfall nearly the double size of the county’s annual budget.
The money is part of the Biden administration’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, intended to combat the coronavirus pandemic, including public health and economic impacts.
Although much of the federal money will go directly to municipalities and states, more than $65 billion in aid has been allocated to county governments around the country. A total of $400 million has been allocated the six vestigial counties in Massachusetts: Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Nantucket, Norfolk, and Plymouth.
The other eight state counties were abolished long ago, with cities and towns set to receive larger allocations of federal aid in lieu of the county funds.
The $3.3 million for Dukes County will come in two installments, county commissioners said at their meeting Wednesday, with $1.7 million expected next week and a second allocation of funds coming at a similar time next year.
Eligible uses for the funds are spread among four broad categories, according to government regulations, including response to the Covid-19 public health emergency or its negative economic impacts, providing premium pay to essential workers, providing government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue due to Covid-19, or to invest in water, sewer or broadband infrastructure.
But the surprise government gravy has already stirred up a bit of jockeying from county leaders about the how, when, where and what of its use. The total annual county budget is around $10 million — nearly all of it for the Martha’s Vineyard Airport, which controls its own revenue and expenditures. The rest, about $1.7 million, is controlled by the county commission and used for administering health and human services funds to Island towns, personnel expenses, contracting for beach management and maintaining the Edgartown courthouse and registry of deeds, among other things.
In an editorial published Wednesday, the Boston Globe said given the mostly obsolete functions of county government in the commonwealth, the money should be turned over to cities and towns.
“In Massachusetts, most of the state’s 14 counties ceased to exist as legal entities years ago and endure only as lines on a map,” the newspaper wrote. “The county governments that do still exist only handle minor tasks like providing courthouse maintenance and administering land records — and they’re hardly equipped to handle the sudden arrival of a giant check from Washington. Instead of trying to spend the money themselves, the counties should either turn it over to municipalities or the state.”
County commissioners shrugged off the editorial at their meeting Wednesday, defending their role.
“We need to be really strong in thinking about this funding,” commissioner Keith Chatinover said. “I think we need to stand strong in the idea that the county can spend money wisely . . . we shouldn’t be apologetic about it.”
Commissioner Tristan Israel suggested putting part of the $3.3 million toward the county budget, which was aggressively pared down during the pandemic.
“We’re always scrimping, we’re always cutting,” Mr. Israel said. “I think there’s room for us to use some of that money, and not just be a pass-through.”
He added that if the money were to be reallocated to town governments, it would be wise to tack on an administrative fee. The county currently charges towns a five per cent fee to administer funds to towns on the Island — a controversial practice that has rankled some health and human service providers.
“If the money is coming to us and it’s going to be distributed and we end up with nothing, we . . . should at least have an administrative tax,” Mr. Israel said. “I’m being serious here.”
Commissioners Christine Todd, Richard (Peter) Wharton, John Cahill and Don Leopold all said the allocation of the money merited broader discussion among Island stakeholders and the full commission. Mr. Cahill suggested an advisory counsel, while Mr. Wharton said it would be discussed at a county finance subcommittee meeting Thursday afternoon.
“I’d hate to see us end up thinking about this as a zero-sum game as to who gets to decide what happens with what,” Mr. Leopold said.
“I look forward to the healthy debate that will likely ensue,” Ms. Todd said. “It’s really good news.”
In other business Wednesday, county commissioners discussed beach regulations for the summer, including new signs to prevent jumping near the bridges on Beach Road. They also discussed a bill filed by state Rep. Dylan Fernandes that would allow the Manuel F. Correllus State Forest superintendent to live in a house on the property.
County manager Martina Thornton also announced that a new assistant treasurer had been hired, and Mr. Leopold gave an update on the county’s planning process, which included interviews with 26 individuals ranging from selectmen to nonprofit leaders about the role of the county and county government.
Comments
Dukes County Government has
T Bone Oak BluffsDukes County Government has yet to justify much of its existence. Tristan drooling over a 5% administration fee is disgusting. I’d advise the other county commissioners to not let Tristan get away with doing what he did to Tisbury.
That 5% is highly
Gabrielle West TisburyThat 5% is highly questionable. perhaps some of it should be used towards the county tick program, our own epidemic.
The Dukes County
Nelson Sigelman Vineyard HavenThe Dukes County commissioners must be positively giddy at the thought of receiving millions in taxpayer dollars from the feds. The county is about to become the uncle the family barely tolerated until he hit the lottery.
Hopefully, when taxpayers file into their annual town meetings in the weeks ahead, they will remember that the county assessments, the money you and I pay to fund county government, does not appear on your budget sheets. It comes right off the top.
Then there is the scheme the county hatched to get even more of our tax dollars by charging a five percent “administrative fee” on social service programs once funded by the county and now funded by the towns. For example, the county siphons off five percent of the taxpayer dollars the towns contribute to the Vineyard Health Care Access Program, an invaluable resource for anyone wending his or her way through the health insurance maze.
Why does the county employ nickel and dime schemes to get more money? Because it is unwilling to face the voters fair and square and ask for it. And they get away with it because voters at town meetings seldom take the time to understand the machinations of county government even as they complain about rising taxes.
This town meeting season voters ought to block the county from attaching an administrative fee to the taxpayer dollars they will pony up to pay the costs of island social services.
Nelson, give them 6-8 months,
Joe AlossoNelson, give them 6-8 months, the money will be gone and they'll have nothing to show for it.
I couldn't agree more.
Tom BostonI couldn't agree more.
Due to all of the water
Neighbor On islandDue to all of the water quality issues on the island, why not use the money towards constructing more sewers and reducing the number of septic tanks?
Think about where this money
John Cape CodThink about where this money comes from ! The Feds are running a 27 Trillion deficit that is climbing on a daily basis with money that is printed up at a whim. This country of ours is running on a giant credit card and when it can't pay the interest the US Dollar will end up being devalued and the USA will be the new Venezuela. The sad part is the Taxpayers get pretty much no individual benefit from this " Rescue Plan " and are footing the bill for it all. Wake up American's would you run your household budget like this ?
This is a prime example of
Bob EdgartownThis is a prime example of how the taxpayers in this country continually get screwed by the Biden administration. First and foremost our county government does not even need to exist so the whole county should follow suit like the rest of the counties that disband many many years ago. Second the county doesn’t even know what to do with the money it’s not like they had any direct economic impact by Covid our tax dollars still went to the county government and they had virtually no increase in spending because of Covid. Certainly not $3 million worth. I am on the back nine of life so will not have to pay the piper but I feel sorry for my children and grandchildren. The globe article is correct the money should be returned to the towns that pay their salaries and bills to begin with it should not be looked at as a windfall for the county but I am sure they are excited with the prospect of spending free money. Because that’s what taxpayer money is to people it’s free money
Bob, the Biden administration
Kevin EdgartownBob, the Biden administration isn’t screwing anyone. I certainly have more confidence in them than I do of “County” government. It’s our fault we haven’t disbanded that archaic organization, not anyone else’s. Enjoy your time on the back nine.
Dukes County aka Martha's
Joanne Philbrick Norwich CTDukes County aka Martha's Vineyard, one of the most rich and affluent communities is about to get a huge windfall from the Feds. What a joke. NOTHING is free. WE the people will be paying this back for years. This is an elaborate ponzi scheme created by the gov't to facilitate the distribution of funds to special interest groups under the guise of an "American Rescue Plan". Ask yourself "How am I going to benefit from this plan". As a Senior citizen existing on a fixed income I see NOTHING in it for me or my peers
I'm speechless. Mr. Israel
How Much Money? Martha's VineyardI'm speechless. Mr. Israel flitted away money in Tisbury for years, the last he screwed up was the MSBA grant for $14 Million. Why does anyone think he can be trusted with 3.3 Million? This money needs to go to the towns and dispersed via the formula and do not pass go and do not collect 5%. Maybe Mr. Tristan can use the money to repay the $14 Million loss the town had when he and Loberg along with 12 others penned a letter of no support.
Please learn the County Commissioner Election process and take out papers well in advance and run against any Commissioner that tries to spend the money. #returntothetowns #NO5% - Giddy Todd needs to go. Israel needs to go - Chatinover needs to go
Dukes County has a very hard
Roger OBDukes County has a very hard working registrar of deeds and staff who have always done their best to run a professional, service oriented operation. Please supply them with the resources they need to make improvements they feel necessary to bring the registry up to national standards.
Why not advance sewering and
Jim ChappyWhy not advance sewering and ensure that we clean out all our ponds and radically advance shellfish seeding and clean water?
Many governmental entities on
Jose Oak BluffsMany governmental entities on Island (e.g., schools) have enormous unfunded pension liabilities. MV would be be fiscally wasteful if we didn't use a substantial part of it to pay down some of the liabilities that are already on our books. With inflation looming, some advanced planning to provide taxpayer relief would seem to be in order.
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