To the editor:

I am encouraged by the number of residents who want to understand the town budget process and are getting involved in the conversation, particularly around the school operating budget. As an advocate with the Preserve Barrington Public Education campaign, with an MBA in finance, I am frequently asked to explain the issues in terms that are easier for those who are not actively involved in the process to understand. I would like to share my responses to the most frequently asked questions.

If there is no fluff in the budget, why is there such a large annual surplus? Over the past five years, the school operating surplus has been an average of $542K. This sounds like a lot of money, until you think about the scale of the budget: it’s about 1 percent. Because the district cannot run a deficit, they have to plan for some unexpected expenses. With a median household income in Barrington of $95,000, this equates to knowing at the beginning of a year within $950 what you will spend by the end. That’s one major car repair away from going over budget.

Why do the schools spend $5 million more in June than any other month? The majority of the school budget consists of teacher salaries and benefits. In June, the district pays the teachers in advance for July and August. It’s not $5 million wasted or spent in a rush to maintain it for the next budget year. It’s a uniquely large expense that happens only one time per year. The household equivalent: gift spending at holiday time.

Why are we spending so much on the middle school? The building committee went through years of planning and revising to develop a school that would both serve the needs of our students and be fiscally responsible, resulting in a 19 percent decrease in cost over the initial proposal. Barrington has not had the expense of building a new school in decades. In retrospect, perhaps we should have been setting aside cash designated for new buildings over this time period. But that isn’t how a town budget works, just like few of us set aside cash for car or home purchases versus spending it on immediate needs (or wants).

The school department has a lean budget with very relatively little available for discretionary spending. Just like we cannot quickly change our housing expenses, the district cannot re-align its budget commitments. Any reduction from a level services budget is a short-term solution that has real consequences.

It is through our taxes that we invest in our town: our safety, our quality of life, and our reputation. Education is Barrington’s industry; we must invest in it! I support the $402K amendment (and the $100K one that gets us there).

Michelle Weber

Barrington