Barre Finance Committee Pegs FY2022 Budget at $11.9 Million, Down 2 Percent

BARRE -- April 1, 2021, Barre Finance Committee sets preliminary FY2022 general fund budget at $11.9 million, a 2 percent drop from last year. Town Administrator Jessica told the committee Thursday the decrease reflects lower Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School assessments, down roughly $20,000 due to falling enrollment, plus staff turnover and tight departmental spending. The committee heard level-funded requests from the Board of Assessors, Council on Aging, and library, while Library Director Carol pushed a Plan B that would raise part-time staffing hours and cost roughly $5,000 more than the baseline $19,110 library assistance line. Members flagged roughly $89,000 in accumulated revaluation reserves and $57,000 in sidewalk-and-bridge article balances as candidates for rescission at town meeting, and invited the DPW commission to the April 29 meeting. Barre is projecting approximately $1.081 million in American Rescue Plan stimulus funds, with spending guidance still pending.