Editorial: Barrington man calls for $120K cut to school budget

Financial town meeting in Barrington is tonight

Posted 5/25/16

A relatively quiet budget season in Barrington has left some folks in town thinking there might not be enough attendees at tonight's financial town meeting to have a quorum. 

That's hard …

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Editorial: Barrington man calls for $120K cut to school budget

Financial town meeting in Barrington is tonight

Posted

A relatively quiet budget season in Barrington has left some folks in town thinking there might not be enough attendees at tonight's financial town meeting to have a quorum. 

That's hard to believe considering the amount of money that will be "up for discussion" inside the high school auditorium starting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 25.

The proposed school budget is $47,966,000; that includes a $797,000 increase over the current budget. Some of that money is destined to pay for changes to the transportation schedule — officials are planning to add two buses to the routes in an effort to reduce run times and back up morning pick-ups until after 7 a.m.

But the school budget faces a challenge.

Longtime resident TR Rimoshytus filed a motion with the town clerk's office calling for a $120,000 reduction to the school budget. 

Mr. Rimshytus said his amendment is intended to eliminate money for additional buses, but he is aware that the district has a bottom line budget which does not allow for specific line item cuts. Still, if folks don't want to see the school budget whacked by a $120,000, they might want to get to the high school tonight.

Also included in the school budget is $275,000 in the capital requests for new computer devices for students. The money will help Barrington schools continue the implementation of its 1-to-1 program, which is projected to supply every student in grade 4 through 12 with his or her own device. 

The municipal side of the budget may not offer the same excitement this year, but it will mark the final time a Peter DeAngelis-built budget will be up for a vote. Mr. DeAngelis has announced his plans to retire this fall, after more than 40 years working for the town. 

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