Farmington Homeowners Face 4.61% Tax Increase After Town Council Finalizes Budget
By Jack Beckett | The Farmington Mercury
Farmington, CT — Homeowners will see their property taxes rise 4.61% next year after the Town Council approved a $136.7 million budget for 2025-2026—a 6.35% spending increase over the current year.
The mill rate jumps to 26.62 mills, keeping Farmington the lowest-taxed town in the Hartford region, but still pushing bills higher for residents already feeling financial strain.
“This was the peak year,” said Finance Director Joseph Sweczky, citing the 20.04% spike in debt service as the biggest budget driver.
Despite the increase, Council members preserved all core services, restored funding for three police vehicles, and approved modest increases for key nonprofits while cutting capital spending by $384,482 to offset costs.
Where Your Taxes Are Going
The final budget breakdown looks like this:
📌 Board of Education: $83.2M (+4.65%)
📌 Town Operating Budget: $36.4M (+4.05%)
📌 Debt Service: $13.7M (+20.04%)
📌 Capital Improvements: $3M (+32.15%)
Biggest increases: High school construction debt, rising contractual salaries, and utilities.
What Got Funded: Police, Seniors, and Services
🚔 Three Police Vehicles Funded ($167K)
Farmington’s police force gets two marked and one unmarked patrol vehicle, restoring what was cut last year.
Chief Colleen McKenzie had asked for four, warning that delaying replacements “is unusual for us not to have our replacement plan.”
With motor vehicle thefts and break-ins on the rise, Council members agreed this was not the place to cut corners.
🏡 $15,000 for Nonprofits
- Hope Partners (Services for the Elderly): $10,000 to support Meals on Wheels, transportation, and wellness programs.
- Interval House (Domestic Violence Shelter): $5,000 to provide emergency housing and counseling for Farmington residents.
Council Member Brian Connolly noted that Farmington was the only town in the valley not supporting Interval House—until now.
🧹 Custodian for 1928 Town Hall Annex ($11.5K)
One custodian was originally expected to maintain two buildings, but Council Chair Keith Jacobs questioned how that was feasible.
“I don’t know how we thought one custodian could handle both buildings,” Jacobs said before approving the funding.
What Got Cut: Sidewalk Survey, Some Capital Spending
🔴 Sidewalk Survey & Marketing ($35K) Dropped
The Sidewalk Committee’s request for a $35,000 survey was left out, with Council members choosing to focus on assessing existing sidewalk conditions first.
Council Member David Evans pushed for the funding, citing safety issues, but Council Patricia Lombardo argued for a phased approach:
“Maybe we don’t really need a survey, but we need to start chipping away at this,” she said.
Instead, the town will research sidewalk expansion plans internally and consider a survey next year.
✂️ Other Capital Cuts ($384,482 total):
- Town Hall Repairs: – $75K (delayed improvements)
- BOE Tech & Furniture: – $125K
- Streetlight Replacements: – $25K
- Lucas Devices (Defibrillators): – $40K (already funded elsewhere)
These cuts shifted funding sources rather than canceling projects outright.
Farmington Still Has Lowest Tax Rate in Region (For Now) 🔍
With the new mill rate at 26.62 mills, Farmington still has the lowest taxes in the Hartford area, ahead of Avon (29.05 mills) and Simsbury (37.41 mills).
But with another 3.5% tax hike likely next year, some residents aren’t thrilled.
“Next year should be better,” said Sweczky, but acknowledged that debt pressures aren’t gone yet.
What Happens Next? 🗳️
📅 April 21, 2025: Annual Town Meeting
📅 May 1, 2025: Referendum Vote
The final budget must be approved by voters—if it fails, expect more debate and revisions.
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About the Author ☕
Jack Beckett drinks too much coffee and writes for The Farmington Mercury with the speed of a stenographer at a caffeine convention. Find him covering Town Council meetings, police budgets, and zoning drama.
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