[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6082299,"mediaKeyId","2938745-5a43eebef2ee68a13e54c4045d856191","parentId",2938745,"title","Votes at a glance: Norwich council adopts vehicle depreciation ordinance, Reed & Hughes tax abatement and a slate of budget- and fee-related resolutions","audioSeconds",213,"startMs",218000,"endMs",4432,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2938745-5a43eebef2ee68a13e54c4045d856191&start=218&end=4","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2938745-5a43eebef2ee68a13e54c4045d856191/thumbnail_218000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6082299/Norwich/New-London-County/Connecticut/Votes-at-a-glance-Norwich-council-adopts-vehicle-depreciation-ordinance-Reed-Hughes-tax-abatement-and-a-slate-of-budget-and-fee-related-resolutions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6082299-f276a470b02374e17ff288b05637e92b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181865&Signature=ewKQXDHpHQeniyGBL~JGQgSCl4If8ko7eRAyJxbBUfed-Dc~Cxj59bCe5P48gLWY-v08Fuc7z9J7WYLGpvwndxc2vO5GbI-UypZuM-baLmNIi1zW0R0TZFfDG~7FJlNa78wt7LhZuBJhAxwu3nXObg7JoByY0Y1RUDcKCBR48UL30gfXkqe~V2hrpsY7UNA9bSLclVojQcs1PZilMxkuf38XoGRLybivnoPq4Dj8~PF~SrKTf2JaFLQrv8GIwiqC6ZW3K7OWQp6n0y4PqayFGzGaZisIEdGgpyBZPCZhbjmEnoJmJwlNGs2UuE~C8rMMyT25LA~JQuyRza1grZqy3Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Norwich, CT","date","2025-04-07T00:00:00Z","article","The Norwich City Council on Monday approved a series of ordinances and resolutions, including a modified schedule of depreciation for motor‑vehicle assessments, a tax‑abatement ordinance for the Reed & Hughes historic redevelopment, appropriations for opioid‑settlement and cannabis gross‑receipts revenues, and multiple appointments. Most measures passed unanimously; a fee increase for Mohegan Park picnic‑area permits passed 6–1.

Why it matters: The depreciation schedule and tax‑abatement ordinance affect municipal revenues and development incentives; the appropriations allocate one‑time or restricted revenues (opioid settlement, cannabis receipts) to city programs. The adopted changes and scheduled public hearings set the next steps for budget and code amendments.

Key outcomes (roll calls and outcomes as recorded):

- Modified motor‑vehicle depreciation schedule (Second reading and action): Adopted, vote 7–0. Motion to bring to the floor by Alderman Hayes, second Alderman Nash. This ordinance changes how motor vehicles are depreciated for property‑tax assessment for assessment years commencing on or after Oct. 1, 2024; city manager had described it as a compromise to phase in the state’s new depreciation schedule.

- Reed & Hughes property tax abatement (historic redevelopment): Adopted, vote 7–0. Motion by Alderman Singh, second by Alderman Gould (transcript spelling). Council members noted the project received a state $550,000 grant and Community Investment Fund support; members described it as bringing a long‑stalled historic property back into productive use and onto the tax rolls.

- Adoption of minutes (Mar. 3 and Mar. 17, 2025): Adopted, vote 7–0.

- Resolution: set first and second public hearings on the FY 2025–26 budget (dates announced): Adopted, vote 7–0. Council announced public hearings for April 16 and May 12 and a tentative adoption date in June.

- Resolution to appropriate unexpended/unencumbered opioid settlement funds: Adopted, vote 7–0.

- Resolution to appropriate unexpended/unencumbered cannabis gross‑receipt tax revenues: Adopted, vote 7–0.

- Mohegan Park picnic‑area and lakeside pavilion permit fee increase: Adopted, vote 6–1. Alderman Singh asked that fees be reviewed periodically; the council adopted the fee change with one no vote (roll‑call registered as 6–1).

- Authorization to accept deed in lieu of foreclosure from Molly Dogland LLC: Adopted, vote 7–0.

- City manager authorized to work with planning director to execute and return an assistance agreement to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP): Adopted, vote 7–0.

- Authorization to enter into duplicate assistant agreement for a municipal brownfield grant with the state: Adopted, vote 7–0.

- Reappointment of the city historian: Adopted, vote 7–0 (name not specified in the resolution text during roll call).

- Appointment to the Inland Wetlands, Watercourses and Conservation Commission (Annabelle Caswell): Adopted, vote 7–0.

- Appointment of an alternate member to the Historic District Commission (Sean Edgecomb): Adopted, vote 7–0.

- Resolution appointing a regular member to the Board of Public Utilities Commissioners and Sewer Authority: Council approved an amendment to insert the word “and” between the Public Utilities Commissioners and Sewer Authority in the resolution text; the amendment passed 7–0 and the resolution as amended passed 7–0.

- Ordinance filings advanced and public hearings scheduled for several code changes: ordinances on tax levies (10/01/2024 grand list), commercial‑hauler disposal fees (Norwich Code sec. 9‑28), building permit and demolition permit fees (Norwich Code ch. 4), and fire marshal plan‑review and inspection fees (Norwich Code ch. 8) were raised for public hearing and scheduled in April (dates listed in the meeting).

Votes and procedure notes: Most roll calls were recorded with votes of 7–0 on adopted items. The Mohegan Park permit fee resolution was recorded as adopted 6–1. Where roll-call names were read, council members recorded as voting yes included Aldermen Nash, Hayes, Betancourt, Gold (or Gould in a few lines), Singh, President Pro Tem DeLucia, and Mayor Nystrom; exact name spellings vary in the transcript at a few points and are quoted as read during the roll calls.

Ending: Several ordinances were advanced to public hearings; the council’s actions set the schedule for hearings and follow‑up votes on budget and code changes.
","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Norwich 2025-04-07 Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Norwich City Council adopted multiple ordinances and resolutions affecting assessments, tax abatements, appropriations and appointments; most measures passed unanimously and public hearings were scheduled for several code changes.","taxTitle","Norwich, New London County, Connecticut","taxId",4639,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6082303,"Norwich city manager outlines proposed FY 2025–26 budget, cites $3.6 million state revenue loss and proposed 35.23 mill rate",2935,663000,3598000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2938745-5a43eebef2ee68a13e54c4045d856191&start=663&end=3598","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2938745-5a43eebef2ee68a13e54c4045d856191/thumbnail_663000.jpg","/articles/6082303/Norwich/New-London-County/Connecticut/Norwich-city-manager-outlines-proposed-FY-202526-budget-cites-36-million-state-revenue-loss-and-proposed-3523-mill-rate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6082303-4d28b7c2c39cb68413f9da693f441e95/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181865&Signature=g0o2YixTt-WIYL830XvL7Sy1JJoAm9~aYJ9HzlnRdplH0LN8i7PKpuo6Qz7gJFFxj0wTx6c0yN2zaLn6ir0PyrVrrMI6A2HhXwtxnplVLNwUe0r8COoGaK~9HVevxCy5Q3mOzN-2dGOJBq2hEnnLATG7EaIgIgoLnPrAlTzxo5GZ3519cXpCpFGB46lLQCvZCS5gAbtUcsAUDtsckGSG7qfVpazl-rC6ALa1zy9GvxnbiIQ6awBgxPiw9uBKsNqfDRa2sfQ9~KXRu1Kfkzu8V8NduryFWBB6GBF~4ezV9W-U8Fbt44OddjX6e4yBkQLd2WIX2YUpudMARYh-JsixFQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City Manager John delivered an overview of the proposed fiscal 2025–26 budget, saying the city faces a roughly $3.6 million shortfall in state revenue and is proposing a mill rate of 35.23 to balance the gap.

John told the council the city’s “collectible grand list” was effectively flat and that changes in state vehicle-assessment rules cut approximately $32,000,000 in assessed motor-vehicle value, contributing to the revenue loss. He said: “We had to reduce our collectible grand list by 32,000,000 dollars of assessed value.”

The nut graf: The shortfall and other revenue changes — including lower payments tied to Norwich Public Utilities gross receipts and a decline in certain state grants — are driving proposed reductions and targeted increases. The city manager framed the budget as an effort to preserve essential services while continuing planned capital investment and debt service tied to school construction and other projects.

In his presentation, John outlined the principal revenue and expenditure drivers: a near‑unchanged grand list overall, a $32 million reduction tied to motor-vehicle reassessments, about $2.9 million lost from a state car‑tax calculation, another $600,000 from pilot payments, and approximately $1 million less from NPU gross revenues. Together the state-related and utility revenue changes, he said, total roughly $3.6 million.

On expenditures, he highlighted education, salary and fringe benefits, and debt service as the major pressures. The Board of Education requested roughly $4.7 million more than the current year; the city manager recommended a 1% increase in education funding (about $1 million) while noting the board will receive Alliance District funds that the manager said would add about $2.1 million to the schools’ resources.

John described a projected increase in debt service driven by a voter‑approved $385 million school bond program. Using the state’s school construction reimbursement assumptions (the manager said the state covers about 80% of eligible school costs for early projects), he showed net annual debt service rising from about $5.3 million now to as much as $14 million at the program’s peak. He warned that the debt-service increase could require future tax increases to sustain both capital and operating services.

Faced with revenue pressure, the manager said the proposed operating budget includes staff reductions. “In my 10 years of budgeting, this is the first time I’ve actually had to propose or, in the end, actually propose, layoffs,” he said, identifying seven positions total — four filled positions (which he said would become layoffs effective July 1) and three vacant positions that would not be filled.

John also described continuing efforts to secure grants and economic development to offset revenue losses: a state Community Investment Fund (he cited a $550,000 state grant toward the Reed & Hughes redevelopment), approximately $11.3 million in state CIF grants for other projects, federal RAISE grant funding previously allocated for Aacom Industrial Center roadway work, and the Norwich Economic Development Corporation’s short‑term debt for land acquisition at Aacom. He said the city is marketing Dodge Stadium and hopes proceeds could reduce budget gaps if a sale closes quickly enough.

The manager proposed modest fee adjustments in some permit areas and noted a continuing capital‑project set‑aside (charter‑mandated 2% of the budget) for infrastructure. He said Friday/next‑steps include department meetings and a public hearing schedule: council public hearings on the budget on April 16 and May 12, follow-up hearings on May 12 and a tentative adoption date of June 2 (charter allows up to June 9).

The presentation concluded with the manager stating the proposed mill rate of 35.23, an increase the manager said is driven primarily by state revenue losses and rising debt service. He closed by noting the council will continue departmental meetings and public hearings before final adoption.

Ending: The council did not take final action on the budget at the meeting; staff and council members will meet department by department and hold several public hearings before a final vote. The manager scheduled those hearings and said adjustments will be possible as new grant or sale proceeds materialize.","City Manager John presented the proposed fiscal 2025–26 budget, describing a $3.6 million net state revenue shortfall, plans to phase in school bonds, proposed layoffs of seven positions, and a recommended mill rate of 35.23. He scheduled multiple public hearings before council adoption.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: Norwich council adopts vehicle depreciation ordinance, Reed & Hughes tax abatement and a slate of budget- and fee-related resolutions

Norwich city manager outlines proposed FY 2025–26 budget, cites $3.6 million state revenue loss and proposed 35.23 mill rate