By Avice Meehan

Norfolk’s Board of Finance and other residents had a first-hand opportunity to dive into the details of the proposed Northwestern Regional 7 budget for 2025-26 during March 26 workshop presentation held in the Botelle Elementary School cafeteria.

The proposed budget for the regional middle and high school is $22,629,264, an overall increase of 2.29 percent. Despite the modest increase, Norfolk’s share of the total pie will drop because the town will be sending fewer students to the Winsted campus.

Norfolk’s proposed assessment would be $1,975,535, which is nearly 8 percent lower than the current year assessment of $2,146,683. Assessments can shift greatly from year to year, depending on enrollments relative to the other towns in the district and the number of tuition students coming from Hartland or other communities.

Molly Sexton Read of Barkhamsted, who chairs the regional board, said she and her colleagues were meeting with every community. She expects the budget to go to referendum on May 6. The regional board, whose Norfolk representatives are Deb Bell and Kim Crone, went on to hold their regular meeting at Botelle.