Latest News Updates
04/10/2012: District 220 Needs Long-Term Budget Solution
District 220 is in the midst of yet another cost reduction process in connection with the 2012-2013 budget. Costs continue to grow at a faster rate than revenue. What is needed is an effort broad enough to achieve a long-term solution to ever increasing costs and property taxes. Taxpayers are increasingly at risk for costs driven by budget issues at the state and federal levels in addition to local issues. As a result, revenue previously received from state or federal sources has been or may be reduced. For example, the state has reduced the District’s transportation funding and the federal grant for the Chinese immersion program was unexpectedly cut off. Of particular concern is the cost shifting to local school districts under discussion in Springfield regarding the huge teacher pension liabilities.
Negotiations for a new teachers’ contract should now be underway. The current contract ends with the current school year. The District has not commented publicly regarding any goals for the outcome of the negotiation.
Following is information regarding the historical revenue and cost picture, the primary revenue drivers, the primary cost driver and key issues facing the District (the Taxpayers). The last sections of this report include recommendations for the District on some elements of a long-term solution to ever increasing costs and property taxes, and a recommendation that taxpayers voice their views.
Read the complete BETA Solution White Paper.
04/10/2012: More News on Library Renovation Project
In early January, 2012 the Barrington Area Library announced that a significant renovation was under consideration. The complete renovation project could cost as much as $5.7 million and is based on a Strategic Facilities Plan developed by a planning firm and an architect working with library staff. That effort had been ongoing for a year or more.
Further discussion took place at meetings on February 8 and 13. On March 12 the Library Trustees approved moving to the next steps of detail planning to evaluate the specific items to be included and for pre-construction phase planning, at an aggregate cost of approximately $98,000. The Trustees indicated that further interim steps would be completed before any decision to proceed with final approval of the project.
Read the complete BETA Library $5.7 Million Renovation Project White Paper.
Prior News Updates
02/23/2012: Update — Library $5.7 Million Renovation Project
Since the last update early in February, the library board held a Committee of the Whole meeting on February 8 and a regular board meeting on February 13. The Committee of the Whole meeting was devoted to the project via a presentation by the planning firm and the architect who developed the Strategic Facilities Plan. At the February 13 meeting the Board took no action, but indicated that a vote to proceed to the next step could be on the agenda for the March 12 regular board meeting. The next step would be to obtain more detailed cost information and evaluate elements of the project. Once work starts the project could take fifteen months to completion.
There would be no increase in the square footage of the library building or the parking lot. While the details have not yet been ironed out, including finite cost estimates, some of the items considered for inclusion in this project are:
- Replacement/repair of fire protection, plumbing and HVAC systems. The Press quotes the library as saying this item would cost $800,000 to $1 million.
- 24/7 pick-up & drop-off access via pick-up lockers and other dispensing technologies at the main library.
- Parking lot repaving and improvements, including drive-up materials return box.
- More self-checkout units throughout the building.
- Layout changes including relocating the staircase leading to the 2nd floor to improve access, more space for children’s programs, areas for collaborative work, and more welcoming space for high-school students.
- Lower shelving in the adult services department for improved accessibility.
The library is quoted in the Press as saying no tax increase is needed. The money to fund the project exists because of budget surpluses accumulated over recent years.
The library was built in 1978 with a major renovation in 1992, plus updates from time to time since then. A referendum for a major library expansion failed in 2008.
Some questions taxpayers might ask are:
- Apparently the public was not involved in the formulation of the project – why not?
- How will the library keep the public informed of the progress on this project at key decision points?
- Does the board intend to implement the entire project, or will there be a critical review and ranking of each element?
- After this project is completed and paid for, will the library cease the practice of accumulating reserves through annual budget surpluses?
The library board meets March 12, 2012 at 7 PM at the library. The decision to begin the next step of evaluating the project may be made at this meeting. Members of the public should make their views known by attending this or future board meetings or by writing to the library at: Barrington Area Library, 505 N. Northwest Highway, Barrington, IL 60010-3399. Information on future board meetings and other updates can be found at the library’s web site:www.barringtonarealibrary.org.