Barrington taxpayers approved 25 of the 36 proposed amendments during the first-ever financial town referendum on Wednesday, May 27. 

Among the items rejected by taxpayers were both school budget amendments — one to increase the budget by an additional $278,100, and the other to decrease the budget by $50,000. 

Barrington voters also rejected the amendment proposing a $100 decrease to support Flower Power, and the amendment proposing a $100 decrease to the Samaritans. 

Barrington taxpayers approved decreases to the Eastern RI Conservation District ($200) and Barrington Preservation Society ($500). However, Barrington taxpayers rejected the proposed cut to the Barrington Land Conservation Trust ($600).

As for the overall budget question, 958 of the 1,669 people to cast ballots voted to approve the measure. The remaining taxpayers did not fill in the approve bubble on the ballot. 

In the race for the two open Committee on Appropriations seats, David Lauria and Joe Merrill won. Merrill was the top vote-getter with 783, while Lauria finished with 746. James Sanderson received 637 votes. There were 67 write-in candidates. 

Following is a summary of the proposed budget amendments:

Amendments (approve or reject):

• 2. Increase school budget by $278,100 (Reject 1,236 to 412)

• 3. Decrease school budget by $50,000 (Reject 918 to 716)

• 4. Decrease support for Flower Power by $100 (Reject 825 to 811)

• 5. Decrease support for The Samaritans by $100 (Reject 853 to 787)

• 6. Decrease support for Eastern RI Conservation District by $200 (Approve 822 to 817)

• 7. Decrease support for Barrington Preservation Society by $500 (Approve 857 to 789)

• 8. Decrease support for Barrington Land Trust by $600 (Reject 839 to 808)

• 9. Decrease Finance and Tax Assessor Department-salaries by $9,346.56 (Approve 960 to 681)

• 10. Decrease Fire Department-auto parts/supplies by $15,000 (Reject 901 to 744)

• 11. Decrease Fire Department-overtime by $35,000 (Approve 830 to 816)

• 12. Decrease Fire Department-salaries by $22,341 (Reject 948 to 700)

• 13. Decrease Peck Center-utilities by $5,400 (Approve 858 to 782)

• 14. Decrease Planning/Building/Resiliency-advertising by $1,180 (Approve 1,036 to 606)

• 15. Decrease Planning/Building/Resiliency-clothing by $280 (Approve 1,024 to 622)

• 16. Decrease Planning/Building/Resiliency-contractual services by $19,556 (Approve 960 to 662)

• 17. Decrease Planning/Building/Resiliency-member dues by $234 (Approve 949 to 664)

• 18. Decrease Planning/Building/Resiliency-salaries by $50,000 (Approve 933 to 684)

• 19. Decrease Planning/Building/Resiliency-stationery and supplies by $600 (Approve 1,000 to 621)

• 20. Decrease Planning/Building/Resiliency-travel conferences by $355 (Approve 1,022 to 607)

• 21. Decrease Police Department-computer services by $10,000 (Reject 847 to 780)

• 22. Decrease Public Works-auto parts by $13,000 (Reject 826 to 801)

• 23. Decrease Public Works-salaries by $29,783 (Reject 852 to 778)

• 24. Decrease Public Works-street lighting by $8,000 (Approve 837 to 789)

• 25. Decrease Public Works-general maintenance by $25,000 (Reject 846 to 778)

• 26. Decrease Town Council-contingency by $2,300 (Approve 1,004 to 617)

• 27. Decrease Town Hall-utilities (contractual) by $11,000 (Approve 905 to 708)

• 28. Decrease Town Hall-utilities (electricity) by $14,000 (Approve 885 to 730)

• 29. Decrease Town Solicitor-legal services by $3,450 (Approve 984 to 638)

• 30. Decrease Town Solicitor-miscellaneous by $2,200 (Approve 1,049 to 572)

• 31. Decrease Finance and Tax Assessor-contractual by $14,547 (Approve 977 to 635)

• 32. Decrease Finance and Tax Assessor-stationery and supplies by $870 (Approve 957 to 600)

• 33. Decrease Finance and Tax Assessor-printing by $1,000 (Approve 980 to 635)

• 34. Decrease Board of Canvassers-election officials by $5,940 (Approve 895 to 722)

• 35. Decrease Town Manager Department-salaries by $49,999 (Approve 937 to 689)

• 36. Decrease Municipal Capital-climate mitigation projects by $15,000 (Approve 837 to 790)

• 37. Decrease Harbor Control by $2,091 (Approve 839 to 793)