2021 Town Warrant Information

Barrington is an SB2 community which means that Town Meeting is separated into a Deliberative Session and a Ballot Session.  The Select Board has been working since September to develop and finalize the operating budget and warrant articles to be presented to voters at Town Meeting in 2021.  This page is intended to provide additional details regarding each warrant article.  The additional information may include documents or video links.  Please use the Table of Contents to navigate directly to the information about a specific warrant article.

RESULTS

Town Ballot    •    School Ballot

Ballot voting on March 9, 2021 at the Barrington Middle School from 8:00am to 7:00pm

*Please wear a mask*

Click Here to watch a 20-minute synopsis of the 2021 budget and warrant articles (from January 4, 2021 Public Hearing).

Click Here to view the 2021 Deliberative Session Presentation reviewed at the 2021 Deliberative Session on January 30th, 2021.

Table of Contents

Article 1: Election of Town OfficersArticle 11: Fire Rescue Equipment Capital Reserve
Article 2: Operating BudgetArticle 12: Cemetery Capital Reserve

Article 3: Bridge and Culvert Capital Reserve

Article 13: Tricentennial Celebration Expendable Trust

Article 4: Highway Equipment Capital Reserve

Article 14: Library Technology Capital Reserve

Article 5: Fire Truck Capital Reserve

Article 15: Police Collective Bargaining Agreement

Article 6: Emergency Communication Capital ReserveArticle 16: Collective Bargaining Agreement Renegotiation and Vote
Article 7: Purchase of Ultra-Terrain Vehicle for Fire and Rescue OperationsArticle 17: Service-Connected Total Disability Credit
Article 8: Library and Community Center Capital ReserveArticle 18: By Petition: All Veterans’ Tax Credit
Article 9: Police Equipment Capital ReserveArticle 19: Other Business

Article 10: Dam Repair/Engineering/Replacement Capital Reserve

 

Town Deliberative Session:

  • Click Here to review important information and frequently asked questions about the 2021 Deliberative Session.
  • Saturday, January 30, 2021
  • 9:00am
  • Barrington Middle School (51 Haley Drive)
  • *Masks required pursuant to the Governor's order*

Ballot Session:

  • Tuesday, March 9, 2021
  • 8:00am - 7:00pm
  • Barrington Middle School (51 Haley Drive)
  • *Masks required pursuant to the Governor's order*
  • The 2021 Town Ballot can be viewed HERE.

Department of Revenue Administration Forms:

Unassigned Fund Balance

Many warrant articles are funded using unassigned fund balance which minimizes future tax rate impacts.  If you have questions regarding Barrington's unassigned fund balance please review the information found Here.

Article 1: Election of Town Officers

Click Here to view the 2021 Candidate Forum which was held virtually on February 18th.  The first 45 minutes is the School Board candidates and the second 45 minutes is the Select Board candidates.  All candidates were invited, Clifton West Jr. declined to participate.

Click Here to review the elected and appointed positions with terms expiring in 2021.

The filing period for town offices is from Wednesday, January 20, 2021 through Friday, January 29, 2021 [office open ONLY for filing 3pm-5pm].

Article 2: Operating Budget

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate as an operating budget, not including appropriations by special warrant articles and other appropriations voted separately, the amounts set forth on the budget posted with the warrant or as amended by vote of the first session, for the purposes set forth therein, totaling $7,267,566?  Should this article be defeated, the default budget shall be $7,170,343, which is the same as last year, with certain adjustments required by previous action of the Town or by law; or the governing body may hold one special meeting, in accordance with RSA 40:13, X and XVI, to take up the issue of a revised operating budget only.  [Majority Vote Required].  This article is recommended by the Select Board 5-0.  This article is recommended by the Advisory Budget Committee 5-0.  This article will have no impact on 2021 property taxes.

Click Here to visit the comprehensive 2021 Budget webpage which includes the entire contents of the 2021 budget binder used by the Select Board and Advisory Budget Committee.

Click Here for a summary of the budget by department.

Article 3: Bridge and Culvert Capital Reserve

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $150,000 to be added to the Bridge and Culvert Capital Reserve Fund previously established, this sum to come from unassigned fund balance with no amount to be raised from taxation.  Such funds may be expended for the purposes of the fund and may be used to apply for 80% state funding from the New Hampshire Bridge Aid Program for related work.  [Majority Vote Required].  Note: This appropriation is in addition to Warrant Article #2, the operating budget article.  This article is recommended by the Select Board 5-0.  This article is recommended by the Advisory Budget Committee 5-0.  This article will have no impact on 2021 property taxes.

Article 4: Highway Equipment Capital Reserve

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $150,000 to be added to the Highway Heavy Equipment Capital Reserve Fund previously established, this sum to come from unassigned fund balance with no amount to be raised from taxation.  [Majority Vote Required].  Note: This appropriation is in addition to Warrant Article #2, the operating budget article.  This article is recommended by the Select Board 5-0.  This article is recommended by the Advisory Budget Committee 5-0.  This article will have no impact on 2021 property taxes.

Article 5: Fire Truck Capital Reserve

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $80,000 to be added to the Fire Truck Capital Reserve Fund previously established, this sum to come from unassigned fund balance with no amount to be raised from taxation.  [Majority Vote Required].  Note: This appropriation is in addition to Warrant Article #2, the operating budget article.  This article is recommended by the Select Board 5-0.  This article is recommended by the Advisory Budget Committee 5-0.  This article will have no impact on 2021 property taxes.

Article 6: Emergency Communication Capital Reserve

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $60,000 to be added to the Communications Upgrade for Emergency Services Capital Reserve Fund previously established, this sum to come from unassigned fund balance with no amount to be raised from taxation.  [Majority Vote Required].  Note: This appropriation is in addition to Warrant Article #2, the operating budget article.  This article is recommended by the Select Board 5-0.  This article is recommended by the Advisory Budget Committee 5-0.  This article will have no impact on 2021 property taxes.

Article 7: Purchase of Ultra-Terrain Vehicle for Fire and Rescue Operations

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $32,000 for the purpose of purchasing an ultra-terrain vehicle and necessary equipment for fire and rescue operations.  This special warrant article will be a non-lapsing appropriation RSA 32:7, V and will not lapse until December 31, 2022.  It is anticipated that $16,000 or 50% of the total cost will be donated from the Barrington Firefighter’s Association, with $16,000 to be raised by taxation.  This article is contingent on the Town receiving the donation, if it is not received this article will be null and void.   [Majority Vote Required].  Note: This appropriation is in addition to Warrant Article #2, the operating budget article.  This article is recommended by the Select Board 4-1.  This article is recommended by the Advisory Budget Committee 3-2.  This article is projected to add 1.5 cents/1,000 to the 2021 tax rate or $4.50 to the tax bill on a $300,000 property.

Click Here to review additional information regarding this warrant article request.

Article 8: Library and Community Center Capital Reserve

To see if the Town will vote to establish a Library and Community Center Capital Reserve Fund under the provisions of RSA 35:1 for the design, planning, and construction of a library and community center, including but not limited to building construction, site work, architectural fees, engineering, permitting, inspection, furniture, commissioning and other expenses to occupy the building, and to raise and appropriate the sum of $25,000 to be placed in this fund, this sum to come from unassigned fund balance with no amount to be raised from taxation.  Further, to name the Select Board as agents to expend from said fund.  [Majority Vote Required].  Note: This appropriation is in addition to Warrant Article #2, the operating budget article.  This article is recommended by the Select Board 5-0.  This article is recommended by the Advisory Budget Committee 3-2.  This article will have no impact on 2021 property taxes.

Article 9: Police Equipment Capital Reserve

To see if the Town will vote to establish a Police Equipment Capital Reserve Fund under the provisions of RSA 35:1 for the purpose of purchasing, installing, and maintaining police equipment and to raise and appropriate the sum of $25,000 to be placed in this fund; this sum to come from unassigned fund balance with no amount to be raised from taxation.  Further, to name the Select Board as agents to expend from said fund.  [Majority Vote Required].  Note: This appropriation is in addition to Warrant Article #2, the operating budget article.  This article is recommended by the Select Board 5-0.  This article is recommended by the Advisory Budget Committee 5-0.  This article will have no impact on 2021 property taxes.

Click Here to review additional information regarding this warrant article request.

Article 10: Dam Repair/Engineering/Replacement Capital Reserve

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $25,000 to be added to the Dam Repair/Engineering/Replacement Capital Reserve Fund previously established, this sum to come from unassigned fund balance with no amount to be raised from taxation.  [Majority Vote Required].  Note: This appropriation is in addition to Warrant Article #2, the operating budget article.  This article is recommended by the Select Board 5-0.  This article is recommended by the Advisory Budget Committee 5-0.  This article will have no impact on 2021 property taxes.

Article 11: Fire Rescue Equipment Capital Reserve

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000 to be added to the Fire and Rescue Equipment Capital Reserve Fund previously established, this sum to come from unassigned fund balance with no amount to be raised from taxation.  [Majority Vote Required].  Note: This appropriation is in addition to Warrant Article #2, the operating budget article.  This article is recommended by the Select Board 5-0.  This article is recommended by the Advisory Budget Committee 5-0.  This article will have no impact on 2021 property taxes.

Article 12: Cemetery Capital Reserve

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $5,500 to be added to the Cemetery Capital Reserve previously established, this sum to come from unassigned fund balance with no amount to be raised from taxation.  This is equal to the amount the Town collected in 2020 from the sale of cemetery lots and other cemetery revenue.  [Majority Vote Required].  Note: This appropriation is in addition to Warrant Article #2, the operating budget article.  This article is recommended by the Select Board 5-0.  This article is recommended by the Advisory Budget Committee 5-0.  This article will have no impact on 2021 property taxes.

Article 13: Tricentennial Celebration Expendable Trust

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $5,000 to be added to the Tricentennial Celebration Expendable Trust previously established, this sum to come from unassigned fund balance with no amount to be raised from taxation.  [Majority Vote Required].  Note: This appropriation is in addition to Warrant Article #2, the operating budget article.  This article is recommended by the Select Board 5-0.  This article is recommended by the Advisory Budget Committee 4-1.  This article will have no impact on 2021 property taxes.

Article 14: Library Technology Capital Reserve

To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $3,000 to be added to the Library Technology Capital Reserve Fund previously established, this sum to come from unassigned fund balance with no amount to be raised from taxation.  [Majority Vote Required].  Note: This appropriation is in addition to Warrant Article #2, the operating budget article.  This article is recommended by the Select Board 5-0.  This article is recommended by the Advisory Budget Committee 5-0.  This article will have no impact on 2021 property taxes.

Article 15: Police Collective Bargaining Agreement

To see if the Town will vote to approve the cost items included in the Collective Bargaining Agreement reached between the Select Board and the Barrington Police Union NEPBA Local #240 which calls for the following increases in salaries and benefits at the current staffing level:

Fiscal YearEstimated Increase
2021$4,787
2022$7,000
2023$2,000

and further to raise and appropriate $4,787 for the current fiscal year, such sum representing the additional costs attributable to the increase in salaries and benefits required by the new agreement over those that would be paid at current staffing levels.  [Majority Vote Required].  Note: This appropriation is in addition to Warrant Article #2, the operating budget article.  This article is recommended by the Select Board 4-1.  This article is recommended by the Advisory Budget Committee 5-0.  This article is projected to add 0.5 cents/1,000 to the 2021 tax rate or $1.50 to the tax bill on a $300,000 property.

Click Here to review a summary of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Article 16: Collective Bargaining Agreement Renegotiation and Vote

To see if the Town will authorize the governing body to call one special meeting, at its option, to address Warrant Article #15, Collective Bargaining Agreement cost items only, if Warrant Article #15 for Collective Bargaining Agreement cost items is defeated.  [Majority Vote Required].  This article is recommended by the Select Board 5-0.

Article 17: Service-Connected Total Disability Credit

To see if the Town will vote to increase the optional tax credit for a Service-Connected Total Disability on residential property from $2,550 to $3,050 pursuant to the provisions of RSA 72:35. [Majority Vote Required].  This article is recommended by the Select Board 5-0.  This article is recommended by the Advisory Budget Committee 5-0.  This article is projected to add 1.5 cents/1,000 to the 2021 tax rate or $4.50 to the tax bill on a $300,000 property.

Article 18: By Petition: All Veterans’ Tax Credit (amended at Deliberative Session)

To see if the Town will vote to increase the Veteran’s Tax Credit from $450 to $550 pursuant to the provisions of RSA 72:28, II and RSA 72:28-b.  [Majority Vote Required].  This article is recommended by the Select Board 5-0.  This article is recommended by the Advisory Budget Committee 4-0.  This article is projected to add 4 cents/1,000 to the 2021 tax rate or $12 to the tax bill on a $300,000 property.

Click Here to review the petitioned article and signatures.

Article 19: Other Business

To transact any other business that may legally come before said meeting of the honorable Town Government.

2021 Budget and Warrant Public Hearing Presentation (20 minutes)

Click Here to review the PowerPoint slides.

*Presentation begins at the 6-minute mark*

2021 Budget and Warrant Presentation by Town Administrator, Conner MacIver