2025 Barrington Warrant (Ballot) Information

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Explanation and Additional Details

Planning Board Recommendation

Deliberative Session Video Link: https://youtu.be/9ErB9Qlugko?si=4K6u0FYl38S4AdzE&t=9803

Deliberative Session Video Link: https://youtu.be/9ErB9Qlugko?si=YgVCtyAC6u4i8p9q&t=10322

Deliberative Session Video Link: https://youtu.be/9ErB9Qlugko?si=iOOf84_HklSU3hX6&t=10383

Deliberative Session Video Link: https://youtu.be/9ErB9Qlugko?si=blREPGd04Myym3rx&t=10574

Deliberative Session Video Link: https://youtu.be/9ErB9Qlugko?si=rWqey3mc_8pMJVu1&t=10729

Explanation and Additional Details

Deliberative Session Video Link: https://youtu.be/9ErB9Qlugko?si=1DP_9r4SiL2J6HzN&t=3936

Advisory Budget Committee Recommendation

The Advisory Budget Committee unanimously recommends this article.  They feel it is important to take an organized approach to facility maintenance activities.  They feel confident the Town has done this with the new facility care and maintenance plans.  It will be important for the community to fund this plan in order to avoid a continued backlog of deferred maintenance, especially in critical facilities such as the Public Safety Building.

Select Board Recommendation

The Select Board unanimously recommends this article.  Establishing and following thoughtful facility care and maintenance plans has been a goal of the Select Board.  The Board is proud to present a new capital reserve account alongside a multi-year plan to keep our facilities well cared for.  Planned investments in our facilities will help avoid costly emergency repairs resulting from deferred maintenance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Explanation and Additional Details

Deliberative Session Video Link: https://youtu.be/9ErB9Qlugko?si=ksLdc8zIrYQV_eA2&t=4209

• Dive Inspection Report**
• Letter of Deficiency**

Advisory Budget Committee Recommendation

The Advisory Budget Committee unanimously recommends this article.  They feel that saving in capital reserve accounts is the most fiscally responsible way to plan for large future expenditures.  The dam repair and improvement projects are essential for the safe operations of the dam and should not be deferred.  Each year, the members of the Advisory Budget Committee reviews updated plans for each capital reserve account and challenge Town staff to find cost savings and alternative purchase and replacement options.  After the 2025 projects, there are no short-term dam repair needs.

Select Board Recommendation

The Select Board unanimously recommends this article.  They feel that Barrington has a very successful program to save funds in advance of large expenditures.  It is critical to make the necessary repairs and improvements to the Swains Lake Dam.  The dam preserves a valuable natural asset and add significant value to the lakefront properties.  The 2025 dam repair/improvement projects will be accompanied by a separate $600,000+ federal-grant-funded culvert replacement project on Lakeside Oaks Drive.  The Board applauds staff for an ongoing commitment to preserving our critical infrastructure and securing grant funds for our community.  Support from voters on capital reserve contributions is essential because missing an annual contribution to these savings accounts sets the expenditure plan behind.  These funds are outside of the operating budget and require Select Board approval for all expenditures which are also monitored by the Trustees of the Trust Funds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Advisory Budget Committee Recommendation

The Advisory Budget Committee does not recommend this article by a vote of 3-2.  The majority feel that these additional funds are non-essential and could continue to be funded by the Recreation Revolving Fund.  Alternatively, they have proposed that these costs are more operating in nature and could be proposed for inclusion in the 2026 operating budget.  The Advisory Budget Committee did not object to giving the community an opportunity to consider this funding proposal.  The minority feel that planned maintenance of parks is part of good governance and ensures that program fees in the Recreation Revolving Fund can be used for community events.

Select Board Recommendation

The Select Board unanimously recommends this article.  They are extremely proud of the ever-expanding parks and recreation opportunities available to the community.  At less than 3% of the total operating budget, the community’s parks and recreation opportunities are very efficient and effective.  Transferring certain park maintenance responsibilities to the taxpayer (instead of the program fee revenue in the Recreation Revolving Fund) ensures that more programming dollars can be reinvested into community events and programs.  Well maintained parks come at a nominal cost and supporting this article will result in recreation and community development outcomes.  Planned investments in our parks will help keep them safe and current without a backlog of deferred maintenance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Advisory Budget Committee Recommendation

The Advisory Budget Committee unanimously recommends this article.  They feel that saving in capital reserve accounts is the most fiscally responsible way to plan for large future expenditures.  The planned purchases from this capital reserve are essential for infrastructure safety and should not be deferred.  Each year, the Advisory Budget Committee reviews updated plans for each capital reserve account and challenge Town staff to find cost savings and alternative purchase and replacement options.  This year, the ABC felt that the annual contribution could be reduced due to the available balance and the likelihood that upcoming projects will require separate bond authority due to their high costs.  The ABC recognizes the importance of funding the engineering phase of these projects to make them ‘shovel ready’ for potential grant funding.

Select Board Recommendation

The Select Board unanimously recommends this article.  They feel that Barrington has a very successful program to save funds in advance of large expenditures.  The Capital Improvement Program has nearly $15 million worth of bridge/culvert infrastructure projects in the coming years.  Most of these projects are in the design phase and the Select Board is optimistic that staff will continue finding grant funds to offset the costs.  In 2025, the Old Settlers Road bridge will be replaced with a $1 million+ grant from the State.  Partial grant funding may be possible for some of the remaining bridge and culvert projects, but the majority of the funding will need to be bonded in an upcoming year.  Support from voters is essential to avoid costly emergency repairs.  These funds are outside of the operating budget and require Select Board approval for all expenditures which are also monitored by the Trustees of the Trust Funds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Advisory Budget Committee Recommendation

The Advisory Budget Committee unanimously recommends this article.  They feel that saving in capital reserve accounts is the most fiscally responsible way to plan for large future expenditures.  The recently completed feasibility study establishes priority projects and anticipated costs which the Advisory Budget Committee would like to see integrated into the Capital Improvement Program.  Once integrated, the ABC would like to see a multi-year savings plan to ensure that contributions to this fund are able to cover the planned projects.  The planned purchases from this capital reserve are essential for operations of the Department and should not be deferred.  Each year, the Advisory Budget Committee reviews updated plans for each capital reserve account and challenge Town staff to find cost savings and alternative purchase and replacement options.

Select Board Recommendation

The Select Board unanimously recommends this article.  They feel that Barrington has a very successful program to save funds in advance of large expenditures.  Support from voters is essential because missing an annual contribution to these savings accounts sets the expenditure plan behind.  The Select Board formed the Transfer Station and Recycling Center Review Committee for the primary purpose of evaluating current and future facility needs.  Their work (funded by this capital reserve account) included a recently completed feasibility study which advised the planned paving project in 2025.  These funds are outside of the operating budget and require Select Board approval for all expenditures which are also monitored by the Trustees of the Trust Funds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Advisory Budget Committee Recommendation

The Advisory Budget Committee unanimously recommends this article.  They feel that saving in capital reserve accounts is the most fiscally responsible way to plan for large future expenditures.  The planned purchases from this capital reserve are essential for operations of the Department and should not be deferred.  Each year, the Advisory Budget Committee reviews updated plans for each capital reserve account and challenge Town staff to find cost savings and alternative purchase and replacement options.

Select Board Recommendation

The Select Board unanimously recommends this article.  They feel that Barrington has a very successful program to save funds in advance of large expenditures.  Support from voters is essential because missing an annual contribution to these savings accounts sets the expenditure plan behind.  These funds are outside of the operating budget and require Select Board approval for all expenditures which are also monitored by the Trustees of the Trust Funds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Advisory Budget Committee Recommendation

The Advisory Budget Committee unanimously recommends this article.  They feel that saving in capital reserve accounts is the most fiscally responsible way to plan for large future expenditures.  Residents have been saving for essential radio improvements for nearly twenty years in Barrington.  In 2022 and then 2024/2025 multiple hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent bringing Barrington’s radio infrastructure up to date.  These planned purchases from this capital reserve are essential for reliable emergency communications and should not be deferred.  Each year, the Advisory Budget Committee reviews updated plans for each capital reserve account and challenge Town staff to find cost savings and alternative purchase and replacement options.  This year’s contribution was reduced to $10,000 (from $50,000) since most of the planned projects have been completed.  It will be important to continue saving for medium- and long-range projects.

Select Board Recommendation

The Select Board unanimously recommends this article.  They feel that Barrington has a very successful program to save funds in advance of large expenditures.  In recent years, this account was well-used for its intended purpose; by saving a regular amount year-over-year, the community was able to upgrade vital communications equipment, as planned, without the need to borrow or approve a one-time large expenditure.  Support from voters is essential because missing an annual contribution to these savings accounts sets the expenditure plan behind.  The Select Board is glad that the contributions to this savings account can be reduced based on upcoming needs.  These funds are outside of the operating budget and require Select Board approval for all expenditures which are also monitored by the Trustees of the Trust Funds.

Frequently Asked Questions

The filing period for School District Officers was from Wednesday, January 22, 2025 through Thursday, January 30, 2025, by appointment only. The SAU office was open on Friday, January 31st from 3pm-5pm for those who did not have an appointment and wished to file for School District positions. Contact the SAU at 603-664-2715 or the School District Clerk at 978-807-8241 to learn more about open positions.

The FY 2025-2026 Total Operating Budget of $31,799,238 is recommended unanimously by the Barrington School Board and by majority by the School Board Advisory Budget Committee.

The proposed 2025-26 Operating Budget represents a 7.53% increase or $2,225,876 from the 2024-25 Operating Budget and 1.1% increase or $328,768 more than the proposed FY 2024-2025 general fund default budget of $31,470,470. 

The proposed budget increases are driven by several factors including a 12.4% increase in health insurance costs, an 8% increase in high school tuition rates as well as an increase of an additional six high school students, mandated contractual salary increases, and rising transportation costs.

The proposed operating budget also supports specialized in-district and out-of-district programs for all our students, no matter what their educational needs might entail, and no matter what school(s) they attend. Special education and student service revenue and federal grant funding for Barrington will decrease compared to previous years.

Deliberative Session Video Link: https://youtu.be/_ljYnHlG__4?si=7hmch1i8hZFmFdf_&t=635

A longer term not only provides continuity and stability, it also allows elected officials to focus on long-term planning and implementation of policies without the pressure of annual re-election campaigns and learning about the requirements of the position.  Additionally, with more time in office, officials can better understand their roles, build relationships, and work more effectively on required tasks.  Less frequent elections mean fewer disruptions for voters, candidates, and the community, leading to more thoughtful and less hurried electoral processes.

Deliberative Session Video Link: https://youtu.be/_ljYnHlG__4?si=livgmtohgfU28iH9&t=2990

New Hampshire Revised Statute (RSA) 193:1 requires children between the ages of 6 and 18 to attend an approved school.  It is the responsibility of the local school district in the community where a child resides to ensure that an approved high school education is available for all of its high school aged students.  On May 9, 2024, the Barrington School District hosted a high school community forum where Coe Brown Northwood Academy, Dover High School and Oyster River High School representatives presented information on their respective high schools.  Following these presentations a survey was conducted with both in-person attendees as well as via email for those who could not attend.  Of those who participated in the survey, the response was overwhelmingly in favor of continuing with the high school choice model in Barrington.  As a result, representatives from the Barrington School Board and the Superintendent renegotiated a tuition contract with the Oyster River and Dover School Districts as our two schools of record as well as securing a memorandum of understanding with Coe Brown. 

New Hampshire Revised Statute (RSA) 193:1 requires children between the ages of 6 and 18 to attend an approved school.  It is the responsibility of the local school district in the community where a child resides to ensure that an approved high school education is available for all of its high school aged students.  On May 9, 2024, the Barrington School District hosted a high school community forum where Coe Brown Northwood Academy, Dover High School and Oyster River High School representatives presented information on their respective high schools.  Following these presentations a survey was conducted with both in-person attendees as well as via email for those who could not attend.  Of those who participated in the survey, the response was overwhelmingly in favor of continuing with the high school choice model in Barrington.  As a result, representatives from the Barrington School Board and the Superintendent renegotiated a tuition contract with the Oyster River and Dover School Districts as our two schools of record as well as securing a memorandum of understanding with Coe Brown. 

Two members of the Barrington School Board in conjunction with four members of the Barrington Education Association collaborated throughout the months of August through January to compile a robust 3-year educator agreement.  The proposed agreement aims to make Barrington more competitive by aligning salaries and benefits with those offered in neighboring districts. This demonstrates a commitment to retaining our current educators while attracting highly qualified candidates to the district. By stabilizing staffing, Barrington schools will be better positioned to implement and sustain long-term programs and initiatives, continuing our tradition of enhancing educational outcomes for students.

The Barrington School District Facilities Capital Reserve Fund (FCRF) has been an invaluable planning and budgeting tool for the School District. The FCRF provides the School District the opportunity to repair and replace school infrastructure that is both planned and unexpected. In addition, the FCRF is a valuable funding source in competing for competitive grants that require matching funds. The Barrington School Board remains committed to the upkeep and maintenance of the Barrington School District facilities and grounds.  In the upcoming decade we will have many high dollar maintenance needs that require this proactive approach.  This $250,000 FCRF deposit from the current year’s unassigned fund balance does not require an appropriation of new funds. The existing capital will provide a funding source for future school district projects such as: parking lot pavement and striping, middle school window repair and replacement, roof repair and replacement, a generator for the ECLC and other future building infrastructure projects and needs.

If the Warrant Article for the newly negotiated Educator Contract (Article 6) should fail at the March 11, 2025 vote, Article 7 would permit the School Board and Union negotiators the opportunity to revisit and renegotiate the cost items of the contract only.  This would potentially afford us the opportunity to hold an additional hearing and vote to get an adjusted educator contract put forth before and passed by the voters.