Middle school supporters call for 'Yes' vote at March 16 meeting
Taxpayers will be asked to approve exceeding the 4 percent tax cap
Barrington residents' tax bills will hinge on a vote at the special financial town meeting on March 16.
A yes vote will mean officials in town will be able to exceed the 4 percent tax cap — …
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Middle school supporters call for 'Yes' vote at March 16 meeting
Taxpayers will be asked to approve exceeding the 4 percent tax cap
Barrington residents' tax bills will hinge on a vote at the special financial town meeting on March 16.
A yes vote will mean officials in town will be able to exceed the 4 percent tax cap — officials will be able to make the $3.1 million debt service payment for the $68.4 million middle school bond, and operating budgets for the municipal government and school department will be able to accomodate increases.
A no vote will mean officials will need to make significant budget cuts to the operating budgets if they want to afford payments on the bond.
"No one wants to pay more taxes but the reality of paying even more in the near future to build the same or an even lesser school makes no sense," wrote Barrington residents Bill and Kathleen Gantz in a letter to the editor this week. "Acting now to build a school that meets our community standards, keeping us on our current educational trajectory, is the right thing..."
Barrington resident Julie Sullivan Owens also shared her support for a "yes" vote at the March 16 meeting.
"In November, while there were 5,978 residents who approved the BMS bond, there were also 3,388 who voted against it," she wrote. "If turnout among the majority who voted yes in November is not strong, this vital project that has been approved by the electorate as well as the town council could be derailed. Please, mark your calendar for Thursday, March 16 at 7 p.m. and get to Barrington High School to vote YES for BMS - again."
Barrington Town Manager Jim Cunha said there are two reasons officials decided to have a special FTM two months before the regular FTM: First, the interest rates for bonds is expected to climb and the difference of a couple months could mean a more costly project.
The second reason is that officials want to start work as soon as possible, because construction costs are on the increase.
A quorum of 100 people is required for the meeting to be held. As for the vote, the resolution need only pass by a simple majority. It could, literally, come down to one single vote.
The annual bond payments are expected to be about $3.1 million. The bond will have a 25-year term.
