NORWICH – The City of Norwich Common Council unanimously approved the proposed $12.3 million 2019 budget at its meeting Tuesday night.

The adopted budget includes a 0.48 percent tax increase on the average property owner in the city, which will result in a $6.05 increase in annual taxes on taxpayers, and a general fund line of $8.4 million.

It is a slight decrease from the $12.4 million 2018 budget, which included a 1.81 percent increase in tax rate and an average cost impact of $22.50 per year of the city’s average property owner.

City of Norwich Mayor Christine Carnrike commended City Clerk/Director of Finance Dee DuFour and the finance department for putting the budget together, as well as department heads for working with the city through the process.

She noted that she doesn’t favor raising taxes without a significant increase or marked improvement of services, and said, “In light of all that the 2019 budget includes, I think that 0.48 percent is certainly warranted. It’s a slight increase that is well below the property tax cap.”

City of Norwich Alderman Ward 1 Matthew Caldwell also said a lot of hard work went into the budget. He said, “I think it’s pretty fair and fair to everybody. That’s what I think we’re here to do.”