By Wiley Wood

As the Board of Finance assembled for its first budget workshop on the night of Feb. 13, Chairman Michael Sconyers asked about the grand list, the total value of real property in Norfolk against which town taxes are levied.

Properties were revalued this year, and notices recently went out to property owners informing them of the new assessments. Many have been startled to find their home values have declined.

“As far as the grand list goes, it’s $295,959,369, which means that it’s down 11.85 percent,” said First Selectman Matt Riiska.

In consequence, Sconyers confirmed, the mill rate will go up an equivalent percentage, even if spending stays the same. “But spending won’t stay the same,” said Sconyers.

Riiska outlined some of the extraordinary infrastructure projects the town faces, some in the coming budget year and some in the next year or two: the repair of the bridge at River Place, the reconstruction of two bridges along Mountain Road, reroofing the gymnasium and Hall of Flags section of the Botelle School building, replacing an 8,000-gallon underground oil tank at Botelle, and replacing two furnaces at Botelle that are approaching the 30-year mark.

All of these projects will be subsidized by the federal or state government, or both. The River Place bridge is expected to cost $1.5 million, of which 83 percent will be reimbursed. The two bridges on Mountain Road will cost approximately $700,000, at a reimbursement rate of 50 percent. And the Botelle School projects, also ticketed at $700,000, will be reimbursed by the state at a rate of 69 percent. 

Despite the reimbursements, the aggregate cost to the town for just these projects is likely to be more than $800,000.

In addition, Riiska said that the Public Works Department needs a new four-wheel drive pickup; that many residents have asked about a town van for transporting seniors; that Maple Avenue is in awful condition, as are the sidewalks at Station Place; and that the firehouse needs an addition. “The equipment in the firehouse is crammed into it,” said Riiska. “It’s something we’re going to have to look at.”

Sconyers closed the meeting by pointing out that Norfolk’s share of the Regional 7 School District budget was increasing this year and that a meeting with the Board of Education was planned for March 12.