Some residents said that town support through a tax exemption was enough.
By Donna M. Perry
Staff Writer

FARMINGTON – Residents approved big money articles Monday to run municipal operations but rejected one to support a social service agency.

Though there were a lot of empty chairs at the annual town meeting, at least 100 residents showed up to hash over town business.

By 8:30 p.m. the only article rejected in a 34-24 vote was Work First Inc. The social service agency provides services to individuals with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities by assisting them to find work or work-related options to increase their independence.

Selectmen recommended $1,650.

Selectmen’s Chairman Mary Wright said the group does a good job with what it does for people, but the town already supports them through tax exemption, including having five homes for people in the agency’s care exempt from property taxes.

While some residents spoke in favor of the program, others said that the town supported the group through the tax exemption.

A second vote that raised no money for the agency passed.

Budget Committee members cautioned voters on the need to look carefully at the proposed increases in expenses and to think about the future and the possible need for cuts in services, if a tax cap proposal is approved statewide by voters.

Wright had said at the beginning of the meeting that selectmen had scrutinized the $3.7 million spending plan and reduced what could be done without eliminating services.

The selectmen’s proposal was nearly a 4.8 percent increase over last year.

One item that brought discussion was an appropriation request for $60,000 to put in the Fire Rescue equipment reserve account.

There is $36,645.38 in the account now and fire officials are looking to buy a new pumper for the Farmington Falls Station in 2007.

Selectmen favored $274,321 for the department including $60,000 reserve while the Budget Committee wanted the reserve fund decreased by $10,000 to $50,000.

Fire officials request money for reserve each year to prevent the town from having to pay a larger payment all at once for equipment when it is needed.

In the end, voters defeated the lesser proposal and approved the selectmen’s proposal.

An attempt to reduce the code enforcement budget was also rejected. Voters approved $123,474 for code enforcement, which was $5,940 more than last year.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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