Taxpayers voted about $85,000 back into the municipal budget increase during last week’s financial town meeting. Thomas “TR” Rimoshytus pre-filed an amendment to add $78,967 — $47,774 for the police department budget, and $31,193 for employee benefits. Rimoshytus said the money was intended to fully-fund a new lieutenant’s position with the police department who would oversee the new body-worn camera program.

Barrington Police Chief Michael Correia spoke in support of the need to fully fund the position. He said the optimal way to implement the new program is with an officer who would be dedicated to it. Barrington Police Lt. Kevin Igoe also spoke in support of the funding for the department. 

Three members of the Committee on Appropriations explained their reasoning for recommending the funding not be included in the budget. Bill DeWitt, Steve Primiano and Susannah Holloway each said that Barrington Town Manager Phil Hervey had recommended the position when asked to list possible areas to reduce the budget increase. 

That (funding for the police position) was the town manager’s choice, not ours, said DeWitt. 

Barrington Town Council President Michael Carroll said Hervey did not want to cut the funding. 

Eventually, the FTM attendees voted, passing the measure by a large margin.

It was a similar situation with $6,000 for air conditioning to be added to a book sorting room at the Barrington Public Library. Charles Van Sluyter, the interim president of the Friends of the Library, pre-filed the amendment and later explained how air conditioning was supposed to be included in the room, but officials had mistaken the sorting room for a book storage room. The storage room would not need air conditioning, but a sorting room, where people work each day, does. 

Some residents, including Mark Hanchar and John Alessandro, questioned whether the town could find an alternate source for the air condition. Hanchar pointed to the town’s reserve account, while Alessandro suggested the town dip into the federal Covid-relief funds. 

Primiano also said the town council had waived $7,500 in police detail fees for the film festival and block parties that would have more than covered the cost for the air conditioning. 

In the end, the public voted to add the funding into the budget increase.

The municipal budget increased by $1,023,925 (more than 5 percent) for a total budget of $19,660,475.

Understanding the tax rate change

Following is a chart that shares home values, their current tax bills, the possible tax bills if the budget had passed with the COA recommended reductions, and the actual tax bills property owners will face, after additional money was voted back into the budget at the FTM.

The current tax rate is $19.15 (per $1,000 of assessed value); the possible tax rate would have been $19.50; and the actual tax rate will be $19.65.

Home value —  Current bill — Possible bill — Actual bill

$300,000 — $5,745 — $5,850 — $5,895

$400,000 — $7,660 — $7,800 — $7,860

$500,000 — $9,575 — $9,750 — $9,825

$600,000 — $11,490 — $11,700 — $11,790

$700,000 — $13,405 — $13,650 — $13,755

$800,000 — $15,320 — $15,600 — $15,720

$900,000 — $17,235 — $17,550 — $17,685

$1 million — $19,150 — $19,500 — $19,650

$2 million — $38,300 — $39,000 — $39,300

$3 million — $57,450 — $58,500 — $58,950