The Barrington Committee on Appropriations will hold its annual budget hearing tonight, Wednesday, May 11, at 7 p.m. inside the presentation room at the middle school. The hearing will also be made available online.

The event will offer COA members an opportunity to present their recommendations for the operating and capital budgets for the municipal government and school department. 

The annual financial town meeting is set for Wednesday, May 25 at Barrington High School at 7 p.m.

School budget

Barrington school officials proposed a $3.096 million increase for the nearly $60 million operating budget, but the COA has recommended a smaller increase — $2,555,595.

School officials have voiced concerns about the reduction of $540,191 from the school budget increase, and on April 28, the school committee voted to reduce their initial budget increase to about $2.973 million.

School officials have stated that most of the school budget increase will be funded by an increase in state aid.

Municipal budget

The Committee on Appropriations is recommending a 5 percent increase to the proposed municipal budget. 

Barrington Town Manager Phil Hervey initially proposed a 5.41 percent increase (or $1,008,029) to the municipal operating budget — the increase was expected to cover salary raises for union and non-union employees alike, including a $15 per hour minimum wage for all hourly employees. Also included in the budget was money for a new position for the police department: a lieutenant who would help oversee a new body-worn camera program.

But on Tuesday, April 11, the COA voted to recommend a slightly lesser increase of 5.01 percent (or $937,958) for the municipal budget. That shift will likely result in the delayed addition of the new police lieutenant position.

Capital 

There are two sources of money that will help Barrington officials avoid the need to go out for bonds: About $4 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding and another $4 million in surplus money from the Barrington Middle School construction bond.

The town manager has said he hopes to use some of the money to fund the construction of new sidewalks on Lincoln Avenue, Maple Avenue and some other streets.