Author: Sue Frisch

Road Work on Old Goshen Road

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Workmen have begun repairs on Old Goshen Road, milling and paving the hilly section in the area of Torrington House. The road will remain open and the work should be completed by Friday, July 19.

2.5 Percent Increase in Mill Rate Approved

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The Board of Finance approved a 2.5 percent increase in the mill rate for the fiscal year 2024/2025 budget at its special meeting on April 23, a move expected to bring in $8,016,209 in property taxes. To keep the tax increase below 3 percent, the significant increases in the education components of the budget were partially offset by a larger than usual infusion from the town’s positive balance fund balance, no allocation of funds to the capital reserve and a projected savings of about $135,000 from retiring the defined benefit plan. Norfolk residents are urged to attend the final budget hearing Tuesday April 30 at Botelle School at 7:00 p.m. before voting on it at the town meeting to be held May 13.

The total cost to run the town will exceed $9 million in the next fiscal year, a significant increase over prior years due to education expense at Botelle School and Northwestern Regional School Number 7. Generally, about 50 percent of the town’s budget is devoted to education and 50 percent to town government and the public works department. In the upcoming year education expense will account for 53 percent of the total budget. The education budget is $4,795,573, which is a $572,380 increase. Botelle’s budget was impacted by the need to send a special education student to a private school at a cost of $185,000.  

Norfolk’s budget allocation for Regional School Number 7 increased by 19 percent due to the increase from 69 to 75 Norfolk students, as compared to a decrease in numbers from Colebrook, New Hartford and Barkhamsted. The cost sharing among the four towns fluctuates from year to year based upon the student population from each town.

A more detailed article on the budget will appear in the May issue of Norfolk Now.

—By Susan MacEachron

GMF Weather Reporting Back Online

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Great Mountain Forest’s weather reports are available again on weatherunderground.com after being knocked out last week by an early April storm.

As GMF weather observer Russell Russ explained, on Wednesday “…a tree took all wires down near the end of Windrow Road just a quarter of a mile from the office [blocking the] road until Eversource finally showed up late Friday. We got power back, but our internet connection [was] down due to the fiber optic line being down.”

It took several days for Frontier to get the line fixed, but Russ persisted and now the station is back online.

In GMF’s absence, weatherunderground.com users can use Doolittle Station data from Norfolk or choose a station in Colebrook, Winsted or Springfield.

—Webmaster

Construction Alert

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Everyone, please be aware of all the construction work taking place on Maple Avenue. Pedestrians and dog walkers are especially asked not to go through the remediation area. For your own safety and the safety of the workers please give them the space to work.

How to Pay Less for Electricity

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Concerned about your electricity bill? If you think you are paying too much for the power Eversource is delivering, you can switch any time to another supplier with lower rates. Two websites, EnergizeCT and PowerSetter, offer comparative listings from which to choose and sign-up forms to use if and when you decide to switch. Rates vary by length of contract, but most companies offer several options and you can opt to be notified of an impending price decrease. If prices do change, there is no penalty for switching to another supplier with a better rate.