BARRINGTON -- A major increase in state-administered teachers retirement payments is part of a proposed town budget that would increase next year's tax levy by 6.2 percent.
Driven by the state pension committee's demand for a $700,000 increase in the teachers pension contribution, the tax increase for fiscal 2006 would buck state law, which limits towns' yearly increases to 5.5 percent -- unless a town is granted an exception by the state auditor general. Barrington is applying for one.
On March 9, Town Administrator Peter A. DeAngelis released a $53.3-million budget proposal, which includes municipal spending and the school budget. The town administrator must, under the Town Charter, include a spending recommendation made by education officials -- he can not make cuts to it. That meant, initially, the budget would require a still-higher tax levy increase of 6.5 percent.
But school officials have since reduced the education budget request by several hundred thousand dollars by applying surplus money to offset costs, DeAngelis said. School officials have also cut several hundred thousand dollars more.
All told, that puts the combined budget at a little more than $52 million, shaving a few percentage points off the tax levy increase. And much could change as departments and the appropriations committee examine expenses -- especially, depending on how the auditor general rules. The public will formally consider the budget at the May 25 Financial Town Meeting.
"It's just what it says it is: a proposed budget. We will continue to work through the process with the appropriations committee," DeAngelis said Friday.
He added that seeking a waiver to exceed the 5.5-percent tax-levy increase limit is simply an option and not written in stone. "As we continue through the process, we are hopeful that we will not exceed the 5.5.-percent cap," he said. In his budget overview, he urges the town to support efforts at the state level for "pension reform."
The owner of a house assessed at $300,000 would see about a $350 increase in taxes, under the current spending plan, DeAngelis said.
Blue Cross health insurance will increase by 9 percent and dental insurance will increase by the same percentage, according to the most recent information, DeAngelis says in his budget summary. Sixteen employees will be eligible to retire; DeAngelis states that he anticipates four will retire.
DeAngelis also includes recommendations to seek bond approval for roof repairs at Town Hall and the Department of Public Works building, and repairs at The Place and the community center.
Barrington contributes a share of money to the East Providence treatment plant for its sewer usage. The town has to project eight months worth of expenses, and an increase is included in the budget. Also recommended is increasing the average residential quarterly sewer bill by about $9.62.
But in the area of interest on debt payments, the budget shows an 11.36-percent reduction. New interest payments for library improvements and open space are included, but "there is a net decrease in this line item due to the reduction of the town's prior outstanding obligations," DeAngelis' summary says.
With contract negotiations under way between the town and Police Department, DeAngelis includes 3.4 percent in salary increases in anticipation of a settlement. There is no plan for additional hiring. But there is additional money to begin a department restructuring -- namely, to promote people to what would be two newly created lieutenant positions.
Fire Department personnel are also beginning contract negotiations. An anticipated salary increase is included, but there are no calls for new positions.
The Planning Department would get a full-time planner with a $60,000 salary. He would cut a $22,000 that the town has paid in contractual services for planning. The budget also calls for $30,000 to hire a secretary to serve the Planning Board, the Zoning Board of Review, and the new town planner.
Also recommended, under the line item for town treasurer, is to hire a new deputy finance director at a salary of $45,000. "The purpose of this position would be to help absorb the additional workload placed on this office over the last several years without a commensurate increase in personnel," DeAngelis' summary states.
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