Daily Five: Need to Vent? Public Hearing on Budget is March 28.

1.  Today is Tuesday, March 19.  The National Weather Service predicts rain, mostly before 4 p.m., a high temperature of 44 degrees and winds of 17 to 22 mph. Tonight will be windy, with gusts up to 35 mph and a slight chance of snow showers from 11 p.m. until 1 a.m. The low will drop to 28 degrees.

2.  If you want to share your thoughts about the budget, the public hearing is coming up. The Groton Town Council holds its public Hearing at 7 p.m. on March 28 at the Groton Senior Center on Newtown Road. Town Manager Mark Oefinger recently released a proposed $121.6 million budget for the coming fiscal year, an increase of .6 percent over current spending. The budget would require a 5.4 percent increase in the tax rate.

Most of the tax increase is due to declining revenues rather than increased spending. The budget includes $73.66 million for the Groton Board of Education, a 1.4 percent increase.

3.  The Annual Community Services Fair at the Groton Senior Center is next week. The fair is free and typically draws hundreds of people from Groton looking for more information about services offered in town. It’s scheduled from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on March 27.

4.  The Groton School Department is screening children, ages 3 and 4, for preschool in the coming school year. Any children who will turn 4 on or before Jan. 1, 2014 is encouraged to be screened. The district is also screening children who display strong skills in language and socialization to be “preschool peer role models” for the integrated special needs preschool program.  For more information, call (860) 572-2100. Screenings are done by appointment.

5.  Autism Speaks of Southeastern Connecticut will hold an advocacy workshop at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Groton Public Library. Lawrence Berliner, a special education and disability rights lawyer, will speak to parents about the special education process. The program is free and open to the public.