Eye on Town Government

By Susan MacEachron

First Selectman Matt Riiska reviewed the proposed $7.2 million Norfolk budget with the Board of Finance at a meeting on April 13. Education, including Botelle School and Northwest Regional 7 (NWR7), accounts for slightly more than half of the budget, with the remainder covering all other town operations. The budget will be voted on at a town meeting on May 10.

The 2021-22 budget calls for a tax increase of 3.5 percent and will require a transfer from the town’s so-called rainy-day fund. 

The town portion of the budget represents an increase of $598,312, which includes a new oil tank at Botelle ($180,000), various equipment ($95,000) and architectural and engineering planning fees for a new firehouse ($125,000).

The education components of Norfolk’s budget have decreased year-over-year. Norfolk’s share of the NWR7 budget is reduced by $90,000, reflecting a decline in the number of Norfolk students. The Botelle budget is $17,390 less because there is no need for a contribution to the Defined Benefit Plan for retirees. The benefit plan savings also allowed Botelle to include several items from its wish list.

Michael Sconyers, chair of the Board of Finance, noted the proposed budget includes a $200,000 transfer from the town’s positive fund balance to keep the tax increase to 3.5 percent. All but a handful of Connecticut’s 169 municipalities maintain a “rainy-day fund” to help preserve a stable tax base and manage unexpected expenses. The Norfolk positive fund balance as of June 30 was $1,689,281. Sconyers said he had consulted with the town’s accountant, George Sinnamon, to ensure that the proposed transfer of funds would be fiscally responsible. He said Sinnamon advised that Norfolk would continue to have a healthy balance after the transfer of the $200,000. Sconyers noted that the remaining fund balance would still meet the state’s recommendation for municipalities to maintain a fund equal to 15 percent of the annual budget. 

Riiska reminded everyone that the following year, 2022-23, will include several significant capital projects and warned that “next year’s budget will sting a little bit.” He estimated that there could be roughly $8 million needed for the various projects, and borrowing that sum over 30 years could cost the town $300,000 per year. The town’s current debt service is approximately $250,000 per year, and the proposed budget includes an additional $50,000 to cover borrowing for the River Place bridge reconstruction. There could be several years of overlap in debt service while the town pays off the debt from previous capital projects and takes on new borrowing.

The proposed budget does not include funding for the first stage of a proposed fiber optic broadband network. Town officials decided the town could not afford to undertake an estimated $4 to $5 million installation while simultaneously paying for several large and critical infrastructure projects.

The Board of Finance voted to approve the budget as proposed. Sconyers noted the timing for approval of the NWR7 budget does not align with Norfolk’s budget calendar. The vote on the NWR7 component of the town budget will be by referendum on May 4. Town Hall will be open from noon to 8 p.m. for casting ballots. 

The meeting to vote on the overall town budget will be held May 10, in the Botelle gym at 7 p.m. All town residents are welcome to attend the town meeting to vote on the budget. Masks will be required for this in-person meeting. In addition to all Norfolk registered voters, anyone who pays at least $1,000 in Norfolk property taxes is entitled to vote on the town’s budget. Absentee ballots for the town budget vote and the NWR7 referendum may be obtained by filing an application with the town clerk. The application is on the town’s website.