Barrington's 2021 budget projects lower expenses, fewer workers
The Barrington village board on Monday adopted the town's 2021 budget, which accounts for a decrease in expenses and fewer workers, but no changes in services to residents.
The new budget calls for $36.6 million in expenses - compared to $38 million budgeted this year - including $6.9 million in capital costs. Some of those are funded by reserves set aside for that purpose, Village Manager Scott Anderson said during a public hearing Monday night.
No residents spoke at the hearing.
About 43.5% of expenses goes to the general fund, which covers day-to-day services including police, fire and public works. This year was particularly challenging due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but village staff members pivoted quickly by focusing on providing services remotely and online, Anderson said.
The village will have 93 full-time equivalent employees next year, down from 103.6 at the beginning of 2020. The level of staffing "is probably not our ideal position, but it helps us ... get through the uncertainty of the next six months," Anderson said.
The village doesn't automatically fill positions when employees leave, but instead examines options such as hiring part-timers or contractors, he added. For example, Barrington has a new agreement with the village of Palatine for arborist and forestry consulting, which allowed Barrington not to replace a forester at a savings of nearly $80,000 including benefits, Anderson said. The agreement was approved by the board Monday.
Communications, Marketing and Events Director Patty Dowd Schmitz is moving out of state and will be employed on a six-month contract in 2021, at a $40,000 annual savings in pension and benefit costs for the village.
The village also keeps health care costs down by being part of a joint cooperative with 140 municipalities, Anderson said.
Other cost-cutting measures include splitting the cost of a new vacuum truck with the village of Fox River Grove. The truck and equipment came at a cost of $428,494; Barrington paid $214,944, slightly more than half, due to its specific needs, Anderson said. That also was approved Monday by the board.
The village's property tax levy increase for 2020 will be 2.28%, as approved by the board last month. The village represents only about 7% of residents' property tax bills.
Barrington Director of Financial Services Katrina Hanna estimated that the owners of a home with an average market value of $500,000 will pay an additional $18.85 per year if they live in the Cook County portion of the village, and $5.44 per year if they live in the Lake County portion.
Village board members praised the work of Anderson and the rest of the staff through the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Our services remained at a very high quality so I'm very appreciative for that," Trustee Jennifer Wondrasek said.
Trustee Emily Young added, "There are really amazing people working behind the scenes to ensure such high quality work."
Anderson said he's proud that Barrington has a diversified revenue stream, which allows it to better weather times of economic difficulty. The village's revenue breakdown includes 25.8% from charges for services, 17.3% from sales and use taxes, and 13.3% from property taxes.