Eye on Town Government

by Susan MacEachron

The $7.2 million proposed 2021-22 (FY ’22) Town of Norfolk budget was presented at a meeting held on April 26 to allow town taxpayers to ask questions prior to the vote on May 10. In addition to members of the Board of Finance, approximately 20 people attended in person. The meeting was held in the Botelle gym, seating was spaced apart and everyone wore a mask. Jon Barbagallo provided equipment and technical support that allowed those who did not attend in person to listen to the meeting.

First Selectman Matt Riiska opened by noting that the budget would be posted on the town website. In response to a question, Riiska provided background on the several tranches of existing debt the town carries to pay for previous capital projects, including the Botelle windows and doors, the EMS building and several town vehicles. The existing debt service will cost the town $253,593 in the proposed budget and will be approximately half that amount by the final payoff year of 2026-27. Riiska also showed the estimated impact to the town from additional future borrowing that will be required to pay for the major capital infrastructure projects on the horizon. Riiska said that the FY ’22 proposed budget includes funding for engineering studies for these capital projects, including the firehouse, Maple Ave. and the second Mountain Rd. bridge repair. The engineering work will allow the town to solicit bids for the work and apply for state and federal grant funding to help defray a portion of the cost. Riiska noted that because the second bridge on Mountain Rd., at the intersection with Westside Rd., is wider than 20 feet, it will qualify for 80 percent federal reimbursement, whereas the narrow bridge closer to Route 272 qualifies for 50 percent. 

Riiska was asked whether there were additional potential capital projects for Botelle beyond the oil tank and the roof, and he mentioned the two boilers in the building may need to be replaced next year. He noted that the page detailing the town’s current and future debt also showed the potential impact of funding the proposed broadband project. At the full estimate of $5.3 million, a 30-year bond at 2.5 percent would add $251,000 to the town budget per year. There is no funding included to commence work on broadband in the proposed budget. 

After the meeting, Kim Maxwell, chair of the Fiber Optic Study Committee, expressed disappointment with the BOF’s decision not to include funding to launch a fiber optic network for Norfolk: “A fiber optic network would add less than 3 percent to the mill rate (with private donations actually paying for the network during the first few years) for a system that could bring Norfolk into the modern age.”

Michael Sconyers, chair of the Board of Finance, mentioned the transfer of $200,000 from the town’s positive fund balance (see article on the BOF meeting for further details). At the conclusion of the questions, the BOF voted unanimously to recommend the budget to the town for a vote on May 10.