FARMINGTON – The 2005 Budget Advisory Committee for Franklin County will begin discussions Oct. 19 and 20 in Farmington.

With departmental requests increasing more than 9 percent from 2004, the committee will need to examine the proposed budget to avoid an increase in the county’s mill rate. The 2004 budget is $3,868,396, with property tax revenues accounting for more than $3 million of the funding. The 2005 preliminary budget shows $4,222,776 in costs. Total tax revenue for the county, if that budget stood, would need to increase $148,000, which would raise the mill rate to $1.24 per $1,000 of assessed value.

Serving on the committee for one-year terms are Bill Harlow of Jay, Mary Wright of Farmington and Steve Charles of Phillips; for two-year terms are Keith Swett of East Dixfield, Stephan Bunker of Farmington and Carey Keep of Rangeley; and for three-year terms are Russell Black of Wilton, David Archer of Chesterville and Jim Stone of Oquossoc.