Financial Town Referendum

Barrington will hold its first ever Financial Town Referendum (FTR) on May 27, 2026, replacing the traditional Financial Town Meeting (FTM). Voters in November 2024 voted to switch the Town’s budget approval process from the FTM to an all-day voting FTR in order to give more voters an opportunity to participate in the Town’s most important financial decision.

 

Important Dates & Deadlines

 

  • January 27, 2026 - Budget Forecast Committee report issued
  • Early March 2026 - School Committee & Town Council submit proposed budgets to the Committee on Appropriations (COA)
  • March 2026 - COA public meetings held to develop the FY 2027 budget
  • April 8, 2026 - COA holds first public hearing to present proposed consolidated budget
  • April 15, 2026 - COA holds second public hearing to present final consolidated budget
  • April 27, 2026 - Deadline to file voter-initiated proposed budget amendments with the Town Clerk’s office
  • April 28, 2026 - Deadline for COA candidates to file nomination papers with the Town Clerk’s office
  • May 27, 2026 - Financial Town Referendum (FTR) all-day vote at Town Hall, Council Chamber (7AM-8PM)


2025 Financial Town Meeting: Wednesday, May, 28

  • Monday, April 28: Voter Registration Deadline
  • Monday, April 28: Limitations on Motions for Appropriations (Click link for details)
  • Thursday, May 8: Board of Canvassers meet
  • Wednesday, May 14: Budget Hearing
  • Wednesday, May 21: Limitations on Motions for Appropriations (Click link for details)
  • Wednesday, May 28: Financial Town Meeting at Barrington High School Auditorium

TOP 10 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE BUDGET REVIEW PROCESS:

  1. Budget Forecasting Committee is comprised of two members from each of the elected bodies (Town Council, School Committee and Committee on Appropriations), along with the Town Moderator and is advised by the municipal and school administrators.  
  2. The forecast provides an important context and backdrop to the start of the budget development and review seasons.  
  3. The forecast uses the numbers that are submitted to the state by the Town Director of Finance as a starting point and incorporates estimates of other upcoming costs (e.g., financing for the School Building projects).  It is important for members of the public to understand that the forecast (including forecasts of increases in budgets over the coming five years) serves only as a guideline and offers suggestions that are subject to change as more is known.  
  4. The forecasting report (slides and executive summary) can be found on the Barrington Town website (https://www.barrington.ri.gov/171/Budget-Forecasting-Committee).  
  5. Following the budget forecast the School Committee, in conjunction with the School Superintendent and Director of Finance and the Town Council, in conjunction with the Town Manager and Director of Finance put together budget requests. Members of the public can participate in this process by attending budget discussions during meetings of both the Town Council (February 26, 2025 and March 3, 2025) and the School Committee (February 27, 2025).
  6. The School and Municipal Budgets are reviewed by the Committee on Appropriations, who are responsible for preparing a final budget that is put before the Barrington taxpayers/voters.
  7. The Committee on Appropriations meetings are held on Tuesday evenings starting in the beginning of March and running through to the beginning of May.  All meetings are open to the public and are hybrid, meaning that the public can participate remotely, including offering public comment (More information here: https://www.barrington.ri.gov/168/Committee-on-Appropriations-COA) .
  8. Traditionally, the Financial Town Meeting (this year, on Wednesday, May 28, 2025) has been where members of the public can come to hear the recommendations of the Committee on Appropriations and discuss/vote on the school and municipal budgets.  In 2026, we will shift from a Financial Town Meeting to a Financial Town Referendum (where Barrington voters will go to the polls to vote on the budgets).
  9. Members of the public who have questions about the budget review process can always reach out to the Committee on Appropriations (COA@barrington.ri.gov or crosengardcoa@gmail.com).
  10. Public participation in the form of attendance at meetings, communication with elected officials, and feedback throughout the review process results in the best and most thoughtful budget outcomes for all in Barrington.

2024 Financial Town Meeting: Wednesday, May, 22

2023 Financial Town Meeting: Wednesday, May 24

The registered voters of the Town assemble in Town Meeting for the purpose of hearing official reports, ordering a tax, making appropriations and transacting any other business relating to the finances of the Town. The Financial Town Meeting is publicly noticed and called, and the list of registered voters is made out and canvassed in the same manner as provided bylaw in respect to elective meetings. See the Town Charter for more information about the Financial Town Meeting proceedings.