To the editor:

The school budget was unsurprisingly passed by the School Committee with yet another increase of 3.2 percent to $46.1 million.

The appropriations committee has yet to act on this proposal. What is disturbing in all of this is the assumption of an overall 2 percent increase in salaries and a whopping 5.5 percent increase in benefits which are subject to “negotiations” with the teacher’s union.

This apparently sets the floor for the increases. What am I missing?

Is there anyone watching out for the taxpayer in all of this? What cuts, efficiency improvements, benefit adjustments are being proposed to keep the budget in line with what taxpayers can afford to pay?

Is Barrington so rich and special that it is immune to our current economic realities that are affecting the state and the country? When is spending going be controlled at any level?

I sure hope that those appointed and elected officials who will be “negotiating” and approving deals and budgets take a close look at spending, salaries, benefits and performance to justify any increases.

Are the current salaries and benefit packages justifiable given similar towns in similar situations to justify any increase? Who is looking at these questions? If we don’t do something control these unsustainable cost increases, the economic flight from this town and state will continue.

Andrew C. Kadak

Barrington