The Dukes County commission approved a $5.57 million budget at their monthly meeting on Wednesday, a three per cent increase over last year.

The increase is due to a larger Martha’s Vineyard airport budget and a two per cent cost of living increase for county employees. County employees have not received a COLA in the past two years and $10,000 has been set aside for the adjustment.

The county advisory board, a separate board made up of one selectman from each of the seven towns which oversees the county budget, will vote on the budget at their meeting next month. The county budget covers the airport, registry of deeds, sheriff’s department and county treasurer. After this year the state will take over the sheriff’s budget.

Town assessments are up 2.5 per cent from $828,700 to $849,414. Edgartown selectman and advisory board member Arthur Smadbeck said town assessments are expected to drop considerably over the next few years when the sheriff’s department is no longer managed under the county budget.

Airport manager Sean Flynn said most of the changes in the airport budget are due to changes in personnel and undertaking a major technology upgrade that includes new e-mail, telephone and computer server. The airport budget for next year is $3.6 million, a three per cent increase over last year.

New air service this summer between John F. Kennedy Airport in New York and the Vineyard is also costing the airport money; Mr. Flynn said he needs to purchase equipment to accommodate the 100-seat airplanes operated by Delta Airlines and Jet Blue.

In other business, county manager Russell Smith said he will send a letter to the state concerning the security railing at the big bridge at Joseph Sylvia State Beach. In a joint effort last year, Edgartown, Oak Bluffs and the county installed snow fencing between the bridge walkway and road at the spot where it is popular for people to jump into the channel in the summer months. Mr. Smith said if the state takes no action by this summer, the county will install snow fencing once again.

“We’ve sent them designs and suggested a couple to them, and their answer last year was we put a sign up and tell them not to jump,” Mr. Smith said.

“I’m really concerned . . . they’ve got to do something,” said county commissioner Tom Hallahan. “It’s only matter of time before a kid sitting on the bar falls into traffic . . . it’s a given it’s going to happen. It has to be done before June and July.

Mr. Smith also gave an update on plans to install new windows, paint trim and install new gutters on the Edgartown courthouse. Voters in Island towns approved the use of Community Preservation Act money for the window work at the courthouse last year. Mr. Smith said the Edgartown historic district commission has approved preliminary plans, but a sample gutter must go up before the project gets under way.

On Tuesday county commissioners treated county employees and advisory board members to lunch in the regional high school culinary arts dining room in recognition of county government appreciation month.