FARMINGTON, CT — Town council members Monday night finished a key step as it looks to establish town/school spending plans for 2025-26, approving a recommended budget.
But, now, the combined budget — and a tax impact that calls for an average $350 tax increase for homeowners — rests in the hands of voters.
They will address the budget proposal Monday, April 21, at a town meeting and decide it at a referendum on May 7.
Monday, the Farmington Town Council voted unanimously to recommend a $136.77 million town/school spending package for next fiscal year.
That budget is $8.164 million larger than the current, 2024-25 combined budget, or a 6.35 percent increase.
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If approved as is next month, the budget would increase the town's tax rate from 25.45 mills to 26.62 mills — or a 1.17-mill increase.
For a home assessed at $300,000 (slightly less than the average assessment in Farmington), the new budget would mean an additional $351 in property taxes for that homeowner.
In all, taxes will increase by 4.61 percent, according to the council's budget presentation on Monday.
Budget breakdown
Included in the proposed budget are:
• $83.24 million to operate the Farmington School System — a 4.65 percent increase.
• $35.02 million for town operations — a 4.05 percent increase.
• Debt service is at $13.72 million — a 20.04 percent hike.
• Capital improvement items at $3.017 million — a 32.15 percent increase (the largest percentage hike in the budget.)
During the public hearing prior to the council's vote, Farmington Town Manager Kathleen A. Blonski went over each aspect of the spending plan and what it would cost taxpayers.
Meanwhile, Farmington Superintendent of Schools Kathleen C. Greider presented the school budget's details from the Farmington Board of Education.
"The budget process in Farmington is grounded in our strategic improvement document each year," Greider said, alluding to how education policies and goals determine what school officials will seek each budget year.
"This alignment is critical to ensure our financial plan advances the implementation of our core improvement documents across all schools and classrooms."
What's next?
Blonski also outlined the next steps with the budget now that it is in the taxpayers' hands.
She said the annual Farmington Town Budget Meeting will take place Monday, April 21, at 7 p.m. at the Farmington High School auditorium, 10 Monteith Drive, Farmington.
The meeting will have a virtual component as well, but only those attending in person will be able to offer input or ask questions, she said.
"Please be aware that only those attending the meeting in person will be able to ask questions," Blonski said.
That meeting will then be adjourned to a budget referendum on May 1, with polls open at local poll sites from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Members of the public were allowed to comment on the budget, but no one offered any input either in person or virtually.
Farmington Town Council Chairman Joe Capodiferro then closed the hearing, paving the way for the unanimous council approval of its budget recommendation later in the meeting.
For the latest Farmington school/town budget information, click on this link.
For the complete Farmington Town Council-approved town/school budget recommendation, click on this link.