NORWICH – Town of Norwich Supervisor David Law is touting what he says was a good year for the township and is rolling out numbers of a proposed 2015 budget that he believes taxpayers can get behind.
A township update from Law affirmed that Norwich homeowners are likely to see a zero percent tax levy increase for the general budget in the coming fiscal year. The town’s preliminary numbers put the general budget at $303,000 and the highway budget at $363,000 with taxpayers footing approximately 49 cents per $1,000 assessed property value.
“We have had a very good year,” Law said, citing approximately $1 million in growth in the town since 2013. “We’re trying to give back some to our taxpayers in our town to keep taxes down.”
As part of its financial plan for 2015, the Norwich Town Board is continuing a number of contracts with other municipalities, mainly the City of Norwich, to continue certain services. The town signed a $10,500 contract with the Norwich City Youth Bureau to maintain youth programs, a $616,477 contract with the city for fire protection, and another $8,334 fire protection contract with the South New Berlin Fire Department. The proposed budget also includes $700,000 to the City of Norwich for water and wastewater services for residents living within the water and sewer district.
Although a zero percent tax increase is welcome news for town residents, the town board is opting to draw from its reserves to make that happen. An estimated $15,950 is slated to be taken from the municipality’s reserve accounts to balance the proposed general budget, and an additional $40,000 will be used for the highway budget, said Law, leaving approximately $430,000 left in reserve.
Nevertheless, Law said the town is seeing increased revenue from other sources, including an uptick in legal fees paid to the town from increased court activity, and from a growing number of building projects taking shape throughout the town. Construction crews are currently building the new site of a Metro Mattress store in front of Lowes Home Improvement on Route 12, and paperwork has been filed for construction of an Auto Zone auto parts store just south of the Price Chopper Plaza.
“We have seen a lot more building permits,” Law said, adding that code enforcement in the township is now overseen by Chenango County. The elimination of the town’s own codes enforcement officer is another cost savings measure for taxpayers, he said. “We have had a lot of home improvements this year from people adding on their home and making upgrades ... I think if we as a board give back and keep the taxes low, people tend to reinvest in their businesses and homes.”
The town additionally gained an extra $110,000 in funding through the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) this year, and is looking to move forward with an infrastructure project to improve County Road 32, between Holly’s Corners (at the intersection of state Route 23) and Wood’s Corners (at the intersection of state Route 320).
In the meantime, the town is continuing work on a $90,000 salt shed for the highway department.
“This past year, we were able to also put in a major drain pipe in Wells Road, which also cost $90,000,” said Law, explaining that CHIPS funding was used to help offset those costs.
“A lot of people are willing to give their input on ways that we might be able to save money,” added Law, pointing out that the town saved more than $100,000 by listening to recommendations concerning concrete work on the new salt shed. “We listen to peoples’ input and we take it real seriously.”
The Town of Norwich is likely to schedule a public hearing on its proposed budget at its November meeting.