FARMINGTON — Franklin County commissioners voted unanimously Thursday to approve a $4.22 million budget for 2016-17.

The amount is about $13,500 more than approved by the Franklin County Budget Advisory Committee last week.

The budget and the previously approved $1.89 million to operate the county jail totals $6.11 million.

Commissioners unanimously voted to send four items back to the Budget Advisory Committee. The committee can only change its original budget proposal by a two-thirds majority vote. Failure to achieve a two-thirds majority on the items would retain the amounts voted on by commissioners.

A negotiated reduction in benefits for the Sheriff’s Office and changes to three service agencies were items Commissioners Gary McGrane and Charles Webster differed from with the committee. Commissioner Clyde Barker was absent from Thursday’s meeting because of a death in the family.

Because of the negotiations on insurance, which were not reflected in the committee’s amount, commissioners were able to reduce the $1.59 million set by the committee by $16,542, for a total of $1.58 million for the Sheriff’s Office.

Under program grants, commissioners made changes for Tri-County Mental Health, Western Maine Community Action and Greater Franklin Development Council.

Commissioners voted to provide $5,000 for Tri-County Mental Health. The committee favored no money.

The agency requested $20,000. It was given $10,000 last year.

While individual towns have pushed service agencies to seek funding from the county, Webster said the county could not sustain support and will need to phase out funding for some. 

Commissioners unanimously voted to approve $33,000 for Western Maine Community Action, which is $3,000 more than the committee approved. WMCA’s request was for $40,000.

Commissioners also voted to give $42,000 to Greater Franklin Development Council instead of the $20,000 recommended by the committee. The council requested $60,000.

The committee planned on half of the $20,000 it endorsed to come from the county’s Tax Increment Financing agreement with TransCanada on the Kibby Wind Power development in northern Franklin County. 

The county expenses, as voted on by the commissioners Thursday, was $76,142 under the state-mandated tax cap, after factoring in anticipated revenue.

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