Barre Finance Committee caps school share at 54 percent of new revenue

BARRE — May 31, 2017 — Barre Finance Committee moves toward capping school district share of new revenue at 54 percent. At the May 31 working session, Chair Zachary Macutkiewicz argued the Quabbin Regional school district, which already consumes roughly 54 percent of the town budget, should receive no more than 54 percent of the projected $230,000 in additional fiscal year 2018 revenue — a 2.4 percent increase — leaving room to fund public safety. The committee also reviewed ambulance billing data showing the town collected roughly 45 percent of $500,000 billed through February, with 35 ALS intercepts costing between $250 and $375 each, and discussed a one-full-time-paramedic staffing model as the ambulance budget climbs from $407,000 to $434,000. Regional cost-sharing arrangements with Rutland for IT services and with Hardwick, New Braintree, and Petersham for building inspection are projected to return $64,000 and $34,000 respectively to Barre's general fund.