By Wiley Wood

At three separate meetings in March. Norfolk’s Board of Selectmen worked on a budget for presentation to the Board of Finance in early April. As a result, the proposed total expenditures for the town will go up but only slightly.
Education is still the major expense, followed by roads. State funding levels are uncertain because the Connecticut legislature has not yet passed the governor’s budget.
“We take a snapshot in March of the town’s expenditures,” says First Selectman Sue Dyer, “but a storm could come along in April that would blow all our predictions out of the water.”
Navigating the uncertainties, the selectmen estimate costs as accurately as they can. They had budgeted $100,000 for road salt this year but Supervisor of Public Works John Allen reported expenditures closer to $149,000. Allen explained that he follows the manufacturer’s recommendation of 200-300 pounds of salt per lane mile, with up to 400 pounds for a serious freezing rain. “But it’s not the amount of snow in any given year that correlates with salt usage, it’s the number of snowfalls.”
The selectmen upped the salt allowance to $125,000. “You don’t want to bare bones your winter program,” says Selectman Jim Stotler.
The town’s roads, built for light traffic in the 1930’s and minimally maintained over the next 50 years, are an ongoing cause of concern to the selectmen. In the coming year, they hope to devote $515,000 to road work. “We are grateful to the Board of Finance for allowing us the sums they do for gradually improving our roadways,” says Dyer.
State funds earmarked for capital improvements will go in the coming year to repairing the sidewalks along John J. Curtiss Road. The original construction used bricks set on a concrete bed, but water seepage and freezing cycles have caused extensive damage. Dyer envisions using the state’s Local Capital Improvement Program funds to buy gray pavers to replace the brick and spalled concrete.
The Region 7 Board of Education presented its budget on March 20. Norfolk’s share for 2013-2014 will increase by $16,000.
The resident trooper’s contract, which town residents must approve by vote every two years, is due for renewal. The total cost, which includes the trooper’s salary, benefits and expenses, comes to $160,000, of which the town pays 70 percent, or $112,000. Norfolk residents will vote on continuing the trooper’s contract at the town’s annual meeting in May.
The selectmen will present their preliminary budget to the Board of Finance at their next meeting in April. State Senator Kevin Witkos and State Representative Roberta Willis will be on hand to discuss the current legislative session and the state’s proposed budget. The meeting will be held in Town Hall at 7 p.m. on April 2, and is open to the public.
The Board of Finance will hold its budget hearing at 7 p.m. on April 29.
The annual town meeting is scheduled for May 13, the second Monday of the month.