FARMINGTON — A public hearing to review the annual town meeting warrant will be held Wednesday from 6-8 p.m. in the downstairs conference room of the municipal building at 153 Farmington Falls Road.

The goal of the meeting, which will be livestreamed by Mt. Blue Community Access TV, is to “give people an opportunity to have their questions answered,” Town Manager Erica LaCroix said.

The annual town meeting will be held March 24 at 7 p.m. at the Community Center, 127 Middle St.

The proposed $9.31 million municipal budget for this year, which does not include county or school assessments, is up $275,255, or 3% over last year’s $9.04 million, according to figures provided by LaCroix.

Some departments requesting more money are general administration, up $29,066; Farmington Fire Rescue, up $58,709; parks and recreation/community center, up $29,882; Farmington Public Library, up $27,520; General Assistance, up $10,925; and other protections, up $63,953. They are offset somewhat by lower requests of $103,762 from Public Works and $284,300 for capital reserve accounts.

Voters will also be asked to approve borrowing up to $800,000 for structural and mechanical improvements to the 80-year-old Community Center at 157 Farmington Falls Road. Remaining American Rescue Plan Act funds will also be used for the project.

In July 2021, grant money that could have been used to install an HVAC system to heat, cool and ventilate the Community Center had to be returned because the roof wouldn’t support the units. In February 2022, the board voted to use remaining ARPA funds for the roof.

In 2023, bids to rehabilitate the roof were rejected due to their similarity and the nearly $2.5 million cost. In February 2024, an unnamed company estimated cost for a new roof at $1.7 million and about $900,000 for a roof-over plan. The latter had not been approved by engineers. Last March, the board approved using $20,000 from ARPA funds to determine the cost and scope of repairs.

In November 2024, selectmen unanimously approved a $1.46 million bid from Sheridan Construction of Fairfield to build a new roof over the old one.

Another article estimates nontax municipal revenues of $3.56 million and asks voters to approve reducing amounts to be raised by taxation by that amount.