💸 Budget, Bureaucracy, and Backup Generators: Farmington Passes $136.7M Budget in Marathon Town Council Meeting
April 7, 2025 — Town Hall Council Chambers
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TL;DR: What You Missed While Watching the Masters
- 💰 FY25–26 Budget Passed: $136.7M (+6.35% YoY)
- 🧾 Tax Hike: Mill rate up to 26.62; avg homeowner pays $353 more
- 🏫 BOE Budget: $83.24M, up 4.65%
- 🛠️ Bonded Projects: HVAC, roofs, police generator, sidewalks
- 🧹 Town Cleanup Day: April 26 — bring bags, bring friends, bring competition
- 🎭 Memorial Day Parade: Back in Unionville (weather permitting)
- 🧑🍳 Carol’s Lunchbox: Now open at Westwoods Golf Course (with Sunday breakfast!)
🎯 Quick Navigation
- Golf Course & New Hires
- Budget Breakdown
- Board of Ed Budget
- Public Comments (or lack thereof)
- Committee Highlights
- Bond Authorizations
- Motions, Approvals & Town Trash
⛳ Golf Course Gets a Glow-Up and New Faces
Town Manager Kathleen Blonsky introduced a refreshed Westwoods Golf Course team:
- Jesse: New Director, Parks & Rec
- Steve: Golf Pro (debuted today, rain permitting)
- JP (Since 2017): Golf Superintendent
- Jim Rose-Basin: Maintenance Lead
- Carol & Mike: Operators of Carol’s Lunchbox – open Mon–Sat 11–7:30, Sundays 7–7:30 (yes, there’s breakfast ☕🍳)
🏌️ A new patio and restaurant furniture were added, and the pro shop has been revitalized. Westwoods is also temporarily hosting Canton High School’s golf team.
🧾 Budget Breakdown: $136.7M and Some Potholes
📊 FY25–26 Proposed Budget:
Total: $136,765,432
📈 Increase: $8,164,267 (+6.35%)
🏛️ Town Operations: $36,441,160 (+4.05%)
- Public Works: +6.09%
- Community/Recreation: +15.93%
- Utilities: +9.87%
- Electric: +23.5%
- Communication Costs: +19%
🚓 Police:
- +$167,245 for 3 vehicles (2 marked, 1 unmarked)
- Equipment included
🧽 Custodian:
- +$11,500 to maintain new Town Hall, 1928 Building, Staples House
💙 Nonprofits:
- Hope Partners: +$10,000
- Interval House: +$5,000
💸 Cuts:
- -$140K (Town Capital)
- -$244,482 (Board of Ed Capital)
💡 Fund Balance Use:
- $800,000 appropriation; fund balance remains compliant
🧾 Mill Rate:
- 26.62 mills (+1.17)
- Avg residential increase: $353.39
🏫 BOE Budget: $83.24M, Strategic and Student-Focused
Presented by Superintendent Dr. Kathy Greider:
- Total: $83,240,983 (+4.65%)
- Salaries: 66% of total; +4.26%
- Services (special ed, facilities, tuition): +10.39%
- Insurance: +0.74%
- Equipment: +7.37%
- Capital Improvements: $1,349,518
📉 Farmington ranks 107th in per-pupil spending — about $985 below state average, but still leads in educational outcomes.
🎓 Superintendent search underway; community profile presentation on April 8.
🙋 Public Comment: One Attempt, Zero Sound
In-person: None
Online: Tim Kelly raised his hand but couldn’t unmute. We all felt the suspense. The Council eventually moved on.
🏛️ Committee Highlights
🔨 1928 Building
- Selective demolition completed
- Drywall starts soon
- Project on schedule
🚒 Fire Station
- Awaiting final pricing
- More details forthcoming
🚶 Sidewalk Committee
- Only 33% of town has sidewalks
- 29 streets walked, 0 perfect sidewalks
- Next meeting: April 9
🚲 Bicycle Advisory
- April 9: Driver-bike safety training at Town Garage
- April 26: Trail cleanup during town cleanup day
- Two trail fountains operational
- Pushing for better Route 4 biking infrastructure
🏫 Farmington High School Building
- Nearing completion
- Furniture delivery this month
- Substantial completion date TBD
♻️ Green Efforts Committee
- April 26: Town Cleanup Day a.k.a. “The Super Bowl”
- Gift card prizes from Fork & Fire, Wooden Tap, Bollywood Dreams, and more
- Four trash drop sites + maps
- “Bring your family, team, or sworn enemy — just pick up litter.”
🏛️ Bonds, Motions, and Manholes
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🔧 Bond Projects Approved
- $1M: Highway & Grounds HVAC
- $2.65M: Senior Center HVAC + Roof
- Original 2002 systems, leaking and failing
- Bundling HVAC + roof to save money
🧰 Other Capital Actions
- Police Generator Replacement:
- 20 years old, failing, unreparable
- Funded via LOTCIP grant: $219,438
- Sewer Manhole Adjustment:
- 51 manholes to be raised
- $191,900 to Sorelli Construction
- 28 manholes on state roads (DOT reimbursing)
🏛️ Other Motions
- ADA, Fair Housing, and EEO policies reaffirmed
- Annual report (FY23–24) accepted
- Johnson Ave renamed Liebinger Way
- April 22 Town Council meeting canceled (due to April 21 Town Meeting)
- May 15 referendum warning approved
- Parade to proceed in Unionville
🗓️ Key Dates You Actually Care About
| 📅 Date | 📝 Event |
|---|---|
| April 12 | Spring Celebration @ Polo Club, 10am–1pm |
| April 21 | Annual Town Meeting @ FHS, 7pm |
| April 26 | Green Efforts Town Cleanup Day |
| May 1 | Budget Referendum (6am–8pm) |
| May 18 | UNICO Italian Dinner @ Holy Family Retreat |
✍️ Jack Beckett, Senior Writer
Drinking lukewarm Dunkin’ in a Town Council seat near you. I’m here for the manholes, HVACs, and passive-aggressive parade route debates.
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#WeAreFarmington #LastToFirst #TownBudgetMadness2025
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