NORWICH – Following the completion of the state budget, the Town of Norwich will see an increase in highway funding over what had been originally proposed in February. However, at least one official says this may be the last year the funding will be available at all.

“Don’t count on having this in the budget next year,” said Town Supervisor David Law, referring to what he believes is an end to special funding handed down year to year by the state.

CHIP, or the consolidated local street and highway improvement program, allots money to highway departments across the state. It was proposed in February the program would reduce funding, meaning towns would lose $3.5 million, a reduction of 4.32 percent from last year’s budget.

The CHIP funding would be divided into the Marchiselli program, a federally funded initiative designed to improve highways, financed by federal funds with a requirement for the state and local governments to share the cost of approved projects.