I posted the following on the listserv today.
Call me old school but I think $2 million is a lot money. Building the Public Safety Building cost around $1.6 million. Before spending $2 million on geothermal, let’s take stock, assess capital wants and needs, and determine priorities. The public discussion of geothermal occurred in a vacuum, without any consideration of other capital costs the Town may face. That is not prudent, unless money is no object. The Town Manager is working on a strategic capital plan for Norwich. I want to see what he thinks our capital needs are before making a capital commitment of $2 million.
Despite the approval of Article 36 in 2019, public officials did NOT develop an overall plan to reduce fossil fuel use. Eliminating all fossil fuel use by the Town by 2040 is an ambitious goal. Yet, our leaders have not developed any overall plan to meet that goal. Why? I don’t know. Some officials say Tracy Hall geothermal is the first logical step. But, neither the Selectboard nor the Energy Committee has articulated step two or three or their price tag. Should taxpayers expect another $2 million proposal in 2022?
Our tax bills are high enough. Municipal taxes will go up about 7% this year. The bond adds 3% to the current rate. The homestead school tax rate is one of the highest in the State. Please don’t tell me how little the bond will add to my property tax bill. I am already pinching pennies.
“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.