Farmington manager proposes $142.6 million FY2026-27 budget; council schedules further hearings

Town Manager Kathy A. Blonsky presented the Town of Farmington's recommended FY2026-27 budget on March 10, proposing a total appropriation of $142,579,394, a $5,813,962 (4.25%) increase over the current year. The council set a public hearing on the council's proposed budget for April 6, 2026 and will continue deliberations through scheduled workshops and the April referendum process.

Blonsky said the recommended general fund budget covers town operations, the Farmington public schools, debt service and capital improvements. She said the council's earlier budget target range (2.75% to 4.75% above current expenditures) and long-term forecasting guided the recommendations. Key budget drivers include personnel costs, contractual services and operating two recently added facilities: the renovated 1928 Town Hall and the Westwoods recreation complex.

The manager explained a restructuring of the public safety regional dispatch center: $1,196,526 would be funded from the town operating budget with the remainder paid by state grants and contractual payments from Avon and Burlington. That restructuring reduces the town's operating budget by $564,118 and, according to Blonsky, has expanded staffing capacity and improved regional coordination among public safety agencies.

Blonsky recommended a $37,458,588 appropriation for town operations (a 2.79% increase) and $13,985,252 for debt service (a 1.96% increase). She proposed a first-year capital appropriation of $3,852,000 and recommended three bond questions and a total bonding program of roughly $27.84 million that would include K-4 HVAC projects, road reconstruction and town-hall annex improvements. The manager said some capital work (including renovations to the Staples House, a listed historic property) will require federal, state and local review and may be eligible for grant funding.

On revenue and taxes, the presentation shows a recommended property tax rate of 27.50 mills. Blonsky presented an example for the average homeowner (assessed value: $314,55), saying the typical residential property would see an annual increase of approximately $265.15 under the recommended rate. She noted the town aims to use a mix of grants, user fees and fund balance to limit tax impacts where possible.

The Farmington Board of Education presented its recommended operating budget of $86,858,554, a $3,617,571 (4.35%) increase that the superintendent said is driven by staffing shifts for special services, contractual obligations and rising health-care costs. The BOE requested $1,150,000 in general fund capital and an additional $14,339,152 in bonding for HVAC projects at four elementary schools; state reimbursement was cited as likely for parts of the work.

Councilors and staff reminded the public that the town will host additional budget workshops. The council voted unanimously to schedule a public hearing on April 6 and to advance the process toward the annual meeting and a referendum later in April.

Why it matters: The recommended spending plan sets the framework for municipal services, school programming and multi-year capital projects that will affect property taxes and the town's debt profile. The proposed bond questions and the scope of school HVAC work were flagged during public comment as priorities for closer scrutiny.

What's next: The council will hold a public hearing April 6, 2026 and continue deliberations during its budget workshop series; the annual town meeting is scheduled for April 20 and the referendum for April 30.