Budget Referendum: Polls Are Open

Polls are open today for Farmington residents to vote in the town budget referendum from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the regular polling places.

The proposed $90,335,142 2012-13 town budget includes a 3.1 percent increase in spending over the current year — with a 2.75 percent increase in education spending and 2.28 percent increase in town operating expenses.

The increases in education spending allow a modest amount of rebuilding, officials said, after several years of reductions. Officials said spending on the town sides reflects what's necessary to fully fund anticipated needs while maintaining status quo for services.

The proposed budget also includes $1.8 million for capital projects, a jump over past allotments, which Town Council members have called underfunded.

The mill rate would increase from 21.27 to 21.90 mills, resulting in an estimated $162.34 increase for the average residential home (valued at $258,899).

The town capital improvement plan includes $ 282,000 for fire department gear, hose and to refurbish a truck; $57,000 for technology and communications upgrades at the police department; of the $487,000 under the town manager’s budget, $250,000 is designated to pay for the state-mandated real estate revaluation and the rest is for building and technology improvements at Town Hall. Design of a sewer plant upgrade is designated to cost $500,000 and $375,000 would go to repairing and improving the plant, its equipment and sewer lines. Westwoods Golf Course would get $25,000 to replace a maintenance shed roof and Community and Recreation Services would receive $40,000 for a new Dial-A-Ride van.

The capital improvement plan allocates $600,000 for the Board of Education, mostly to cover the cost of technology equipment.

Voting is at the following locations:

• District 1, Precinct 1 & 2 - Irving Robbins Middle School, 20 Wolf Pit Rd., Farmington
• District 1, Precinct 3 - West Woods Upper Elementary School, 50 Judson Lane, Farmington
• District 2, Precinct 1 - Community/Senior Center, 321 New Britain Ave., Unionville
• District 2, Precinct 2 & 3 - Farmington Library, 6 Monteith Drive, Farmington

To find out which precinct you’re in, visit the Secretary of the State’s website: http://www.dir.ct.gov/sots/LookUp.aspx or call the Farmington Registrar of Voters office at (860) 675-2367.

To see the whole proposed budget, click here.