Barrington budget calls for $8,000 cut to senior center
Library will receive less money for books
The proposed municipal budget is calling for reductions in the amount of money the town spends for temporary and part-time help in the recreation department and at the senior center.
The proposal includes a reduction of $1,833 for temporary help in the recreation department and an $8,000 reduction for part-time help at the senior center.
Barrington Town Manager Jim Cunha said the cuts his budget is recommending are "prudent" and will not impact services or safety.
"Where we felt there may be fat to trim, we've trimmed that," he said.
At the senior center, the director, Michele Geremia, is taking a closer look at staffing levels and programs. She added that there will be no reductions made to the meal program or the entertainment/parties budget.
"We will not touch those," she said. "Those are very important."
Overall the senior center budget calls for a decrease of 7.65 percent.
The reduction at the recreation department — in fact, the overall line item budget shows a slight increase for that department — could impact how many lifeguards will be available at the town beach at certain times.
Ms. Geremia said she fully understands how important the lifeguards are, and will work to make cuts where "it's less significant."
"By state law, we have to have two lifeguards on at all time," said Ms. Geremia.
At the public library, the proposed budget calls for small increase of .52 percent — about $6,600 — which included 2 percent salary increases. Savings were made by reducing funds for part-time help and contract services. The library budget also calls for $8,000 less for purchasing books.
