FARMINGTON — Selectmen, in their final review of the 2018 municipal budget Thursday, unanimously recommended adding $20,000 for recycling/bulky waste. The increase brings the proposed recycling budget to $96,549.
Town Manager Richard Davis said the Public Works Department budget was overdrawn because of hauling bulky waste to the landfill in Norridgewock for $140 a trip.
After a town truck broke down, the town contracted Archie’s Inc. of Mexico for three years to haul the waste. The town plans to resume hauling next year.
Selectman Matthew Smith said it makes sense to add $60,000, because of the budget overrun. The sum of $40,000 was requested and selectmen opted to add $20,000 more.
Selectmen recommend $5.77 million for public services and capital improvements, $118,806 less than last year.
The Budget Committee will go through departmental requests and make their recommendations at 6:30 p.m Wednesday, Jan. 31, at the Municipal Building.
Recommendations are listed for voters at the annual town meeting.
Selectmen recommended department requests with few questions to department heads. Most increases reflected personnel costs.
The Police Department proposed budget of $1.3 million includes a $70,000 increase in personnel services.
The budget for Farmington Fire and Rescue includes $10,000 for overtime to cover full-time firefighters and is offset by a drop in health insurance costs. The proposed budget of $424,407 is $8,350 less than last year.
Much of a nearly $8,000 increase for Parks and Recreation is for an increase in minimum wages.
A $55,467 increase to the assessor budget of $137,101 is for renewing a contract with John E. O’Donnell & Associates, and $32,000 is for the revaluation reserve account.
The proposed $1.3 million Public Works Department budget is $275,000 less than last year’s appropriation. Voters at the 2017 annual town meeting approved increasing the department budget by $250,000 to buy a new truck.
Selectman Stephan Bunker asked if General Assistance needed more money because the county is providing less for social service agencies.
“Is $25,000 going to be enough?” he asked.
The town can use money from the General Fund, if necessary, Davis said.
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