FARMINGTON – Residents will meet at 7 p.m. Monday night to vote on 46 articles at the community center at 127 Middle St. Elections for two contested races, selectmen and school directors, will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. the same day.
Budget items on the warrant include requests for:
• $593,724 for general administration, down from $617,182 last year.
• $831,522 for the Police Department.
• $274,321 for Fire Department.
• $389,227 for streetlights, fire hydrants, ambulance and other safety items, down from $432,106 last year due in large part to a reduction of the ambulance bill by more than half.
• $234,578 for parks and recreation, an increase of about $2,000 from last year.
• 799,257 for public works, an increase of about $8,000 from last year.
Additional funding for parks and recreation and for public works was requested to cover 2.4 percent pay increases for department employees and a 2.1 percent increase in employee health insurance costs.
Selectmen are requesting approval for taking $19,607 from the undesignated fund balance, currently at $1,560,345, to cover overdrafts for three departments. An increase in the price of fuel and road salt contributed to the increased public works budget, as well as to an overdraft in 2004. Also in arrears for 2004 were the Fire Department and recycling program. The Fire Department account was overdrawn by $2,209, due to unanticipated equipment repair costs, according to the town. Recycling was overdrawn by $10,830 as a result of higher-than-expected costs for waste disposal.
Community organizations requesting funds include:
• $2,340 requested by the American Red Cross.
• $3,000 or $2,000 for the Abused Women’s Advocacy Project. Selectmen are recommending $3,000; the Budget Committee is recommending $2,000 with the hope that the agency will seek county funding in the future.
• $3,043 for Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice.
• $2,500 for the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce.
Town Manager Richard Davis said Tuesday he doesn’t anticipate much controversy at the meeting.
He expects that Budget Committee members will comment on some items.
In addition to the town’s annual report and meeting warrant, Davis prepared a four-page overview that provides further explanations on various warrant articles.
The three documents are available during regular office hours at the Town Office prior to the town meeting.
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