Joint Session on School Budget Tonight

The School Committee meets in its annual joint session with the Committee on Appropriations tonight to discuss the proposed 2013-14 operating budget for the Barrington schools.

The joint meeting starts at 7 pm in the School Committee Meeting Room in Town Hall.

The proposed school budget for next year is $46.18 million or 3.7 percent more in spending than this year -- about $1.46 million. The spending plan creates a $1.05 million impact on Barrington taxpayers or a 2.37 percent boost in local contribution.

State aid for next year is estimated at $984,000.

The budget, of course, is still a work in progress because of contract negotiations with the teachers’ union – although an estimated amount for salaries and benefits is already built into the budget.

For the first time, the budget also inclues some historical data based on a state model that gives the appropriations committee members additional information to chew on as they review the proposed spending plan.

Overall, salaries and benefits still make up about 87 percent of the school budget with contractual, operational and mandated services upping that percentage to about 97 percent of all proposed spending.

The proposed school budget also makes up about 70 percent of overall municipal spending in Barrington. School salaries and benefits of about $40 million alone make up about 66 percent of all town spending -- or about $2 of every $3 spent.

Here is the complete agenda for tonight's joint meeting:

BARRINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE/COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Government Center, 283 County Road

March 14, 2013

7:00 p.m.

A. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

B. ACHIEVEMENT RECOGNITION

C. INFORMATION AND PROPOSALS

1. Instructional Technology

D. JOINT DISCUSSION ON BUDGET WITH COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

1. Introduction of Committee on Appropriations

2. Review School Budget

EXECUTIVE SESSION Pursuant to R.I. Gen Laws Section 42-46-5(a)(1)for Personnel; Section 42-46-5(a)(2) for Collective Bargaining andLitigation with NEAB, United Steelworkers and BEST; and Section42-46-5(a)(3) for discussion regarding school buildings securityissues.

The next regular meeting of the Barrington School Committee is scheduled for Thursday, March 21, 2013 at Government Center, 283 County Road, Barrington, RI 02806.