The state of Connecticut is increasing funds paid to towns under the PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) program that offsets revenue losses communities suffer as the result of untaxed land.
Roughly one-third of Norfolk’s 30,000 acres is either untaxed or conserved. “It’s land like the state forests, the land trust and Yale,” said First Selectman Henry Tirrell. Untaxed lands bring no revenues to the town, while owners of conserved land may pay greatly reduced taxes because development rights are signed away.
Under the state’s increased payment plan, the town will receive approximately $14,000 more. At present it receives $96,447.
In other good news, Tirrell told his board at its regular May meeting that the town will also receive $2,000 more in educational assistance and $27,508 from the Mashantucket Pequot/Mohegan Fund. The latter fund is a state municipal grant program funded through tribal casino gaming revenues that assists cities and towns with local budgets, infrastructure and property tax relief.
Tirrell said there are no restrictions on the use of the money, which will go into the General Fund. He noted, however, that welcome as the revenue is it is relatively insignificant when compared to the full scope of the budget. “When you look at our $9 million budget, more than $8 million comes from taxation,” Tirrell said.