Farmington council adopts FY2026–27 budget, adds patrol officer and highway maintainer

The Town of Farmington’s Town Council on March 12 approved the town’s FY2026–27 spending plan and several targeted additions after a daylong series of presentations and questions from department heads. The adopted package sets the town operating budget at $37,738,588, the Board of Education request at $86,858,554, and the capital plan at $4,237,000; the council set a total appropriation of $143,244,394 for the fiscal year.

Council members framed the package as a mix of routine appropriations and targeted investments. Councilor Dave said the plan was “an opportunity” to invest in town priorities after recent growth in the grand list and concluded the package reflects prior fiscal choices that left the town well positioned to act now.

Key staffing additions approved during the session include one full‑time police patrol officer (salary + benefits added to the FY27 budget) and one full‑time highway maintainer. Police and public works leaders said those positions respond to long‑running operational strains: the police department currently runs persistent overtime to fill shifts and the highway division has been operating with fewer crews than in prior years. Police Chief Lorenson told the council, “We have a large overtime budget,” and said adding full‑time patrol capacity should reduce forced overtime and ease strain on specialized units.

Public works director Russ and highway superintendent Jim told the council that an additional maintainer would reduce repeated stop‑work shuffling of crews, allow a dedicated maintenance crew to address potholes and day‑to‑day repairs, and ultimately lengthen the life of road and drainage investments. Russ said, “We do not forget the potholes,” emphasizing the department’s ongoing commitment to responsive maintenance but noting it needs more bench strength to prevent deferrals.

The council also approved targeted capital additions including a replacement dump truck for the highway fleet, a town website redesign, and a $50,000 town‑wide resident survey to inform long‑term planning. Several proposed capital items were discussed and one — a larger Town Hall annex bond request — was deferred for further study and possible ad‑hoc review.

The council approved the annual meeting warning for the April 20, 2026 town meeting with an April 30 referendum date for bond questions. The package includes two bonding questions to be presented to voters: a $4 million road reconstruction bond and a $14,339,152 plan for K–4 elementary school HVAC improvements (the latter carries an estimated state reimbursement of roughly 31.8 percent). Councilors agreed to defer the proposed $7 million Town Hall annex bond to allow a better study of needs and options.

The council also increased the board of education’s defined contribution budget and adjusted several fund balance and revenue items; town staff told the council the recommended use of fund balance is conservative and that the town’s estimated year‑end position remains positive even after the additions. The council adjourned after approving the warning and canceling a set of upcoming council meetings to accommodate the budget calendar.

Next steps: the town will post the official meeting warning and bond language, and voters will consider the bond questions at the April referendum. The council and staff said they will continue outreach and provide clarification about reimbursement assumptions and the schedule for any approved capital projects.