FARMINGTON – Selectmen voted to approve a $3.78 million municipal spending plan for 2004. The proposal is scheduled to go before voters at the March 8 town meeting.

The town’s Budget Committee planned to finish its review of the proposed package Wednesday night.

The budget represents a 5.13 percent or a $184,742 increase over last year’s spending, Town Manager Richard Davis said. The proposal was pared down from a 7 percent increase, he said.

Most of the increase, Davis said, is attributed to:

• A $22,000 rise in liability and property insurance.

• A $63,278 increase in ambulance service subsidy, bringing the total amount to $97,000.

• A $10,500 rise for the Farmington Cemetery Association.

The association had requested $50,000 this year, Davis said, instead of the $10,500 the town had appropriated the past three years.

Selectmen agreed to ask voters for $21,000 this year to help the association that is struggling to care for two cemeteries on Farmington Falls Road, Davis said.

One account showing a decrease this year is the fire department. That budget went down 9.72 percent to $274,321, Davis said.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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