To the editor:

On Nov. 5, Barrington residents voted overwhelming against the installation of artificial turf fields. This was the right decision, and was a vote in support of student-athletes, the environment and fiscal responsibility. Unfortunately, the Barrington School Committee is moving to reject the will of the taxpayers and proceed with the installation of an artificial turf field at the high school’s Victory Field. That field is presently natural grass.

The school committee intends to accomplish this sleight of hand by paying for the turf field out of the school’s capital reserve account. The capital reserve account has been funded over the years from surpluses coming out of the yearly school budgets. The capital reserve account is now at about $5 million.

The school committee intends to spend 90 percent of this fund, or $4.5 million, on an artificial turf field. Not only does this fly in the face of what taxpayers want, but it will also leave the capital reserve account with a precariously low balance. It will take years of taxpayer money to replenish that balance. In the meantime, Barrington taxpayers will be subjected to substantial financial risks that the capital reserve account will not be in a position to cover.

The school committee fails to understand that these funds came from the taxpayers and need to be spent in a manner that reflects the will of the taxpayers. The taxpayers have said NO to artificial turf fields.

PFAS products (artificial turf) will be banned in Rhode Island beginning in Jan. 2029. The cost of disposing artificial turf fields (which have a life cycle of 8 to 10 years) continues to rise and will be astronomical when we need to dispose of this waste. In all likelihood, the town will also have to engage in remediation efforts in the soil and groundwater areas affected by a torn out artificial turf field. All of these unnecessary expenses will fall on the shoulders of Barrington taxpayers, who are already facing substantial tax increases.

If you object to artificial turf fields, please let the school committee know. Apparently, our vote on Nov. 5 was not enough for the school committee. The next meeting of the school committee is on Jan. 9, and is open to the public.

Andrew Reich

Barrington