Since 2011, Barrington schools have used $3.79 million in budget surpluses to build new parking lots, remove asbestos from buildings and upgrade an elementary school water main.

According to the budget forecasting committee's recent report, the school department has turned its operating budget surplus money into infrastructure improvements, much of which have been mandated by the state.

Some of the work has benefited from a 35 percent reimbursement from the Rhode Island Department of Education.

"No bonds have been issued to cover these capital projects," stated the report.

FY 2011-12 surplus — $950,308

FY 2012-13 surplus — $28,268

FY 2013-14 surplus — $712,672

FY 2014-15 surplus — $553,454

FY 2015-16 surplus — $815,941

FY 2016-17 surplus — $723,662

Six-year total — $3,784,305

Projects completed with operating budget surplus money, and benefiting from 35 percent reimbursement from RIDE:

• BHS parking lot, 2011 — $776,026

• Sowams parking lot, 2012 — $210,386

• Primrose parking lot, 2015 — $665,793

• Primrose preschool playground, 2015 — $117,473

• Underground tanks removed, 2015-16 — $70,423

• Water main upgrades, 2015-16 — $42,780

• BHS ADA updates, 2015 — $130,858

• Elementary school health and safety, 2015 — $1,207,870

• Elementary school health and safety, 2015 — $522,680

• Asbestos removal and abatement, 2017 — $51,300

• Total — $3,795,589 (reimbursed 35 percent: $1,138,676)