The Rhode Island General Assembly's budget impasse may result in less state aid for Barrington schools.

According to information from the local school department, Barrington could stand to receive $247,924 less in state aid. 

The superintendent and other officials are reportedly working on an action plan to address the potential reduction. This news is made even more crucial by the recent budget battle that took place in Barrington, one that ended with a significant tax increase for residents.

A crowd of more than 500 people at the May financial town meeting voted by a 3-to-1 margin to increase the schools' request from $800,000 — the amount recommended by the town's committee on appropriations — to $1.2 million, which was the figure the school committee had proposed earlier this spring.

The budget vote will result in a substantial tax rate increase. The old rate was $18.45 per $1,000 of assessed property value, while the new rate is $20. That means a resident whose property was assessed at $300,000 had been paying $5,535, but will soon be facing a $6,000 tax bill. 

All this has left longtime Barrington resident Allan Klepper wondering in a recent letter to the editor: "Should the school committee be requesting a Special Town Meeting to restore funds? Otherwise, most all of the dire cuts articulated at the annual Financial Town Meeting will have to occur."