Greetings from Colebrook Town Hall.

A budget hearing will be held tonight at Colebrook Town Hall at 7 p.m. This will be an opportunity for residents to discuss proposed FY 25/26 budgets, and the Board of Finance’s proposed mill rate. Town and Region 7 budgets will be voted on at town referendum on Tuesday, May 6th.

At its meeting last week, the Board of Finance approved the 0% increase budget proposed by the Board of Selectmen for Town Hall and the Department of Public Works for the coming fiscal year. They endorsed a Board of Selectmen-proposed $450,000 capital budget (funded in part by a $37,000 state grant, received last year).

Also approved were a 1.39% increase in general expenses, and 4.37% increase in Special Education expenses, for Colebrook Consolidated School—and an increased assessment to the town from Northwestern Regional 7 of $164,399.

Based on the increases outlined above, the Board of Finance voted to establish the mill rate at 33.7 for the coming fiscal year, .5 a mill higher than two years ago, and 1.7 mills higher than this past year. In Colebrook, our median home assessment is $175,400. A 1.7 mill increase equates to a $298/year increase for the median home.

The town is in the midst of its state-mandated revaluation process. Recently, all real estate owners should have received data mailers from our revaluation vendor, eQuality. The mailers include details from the town’s assessment database regarding each property.

Please review the details and make notations regarding anything that may be inaccurate. If you prefer to complete the data mailer online, there is a QR code for you to scan with your smartphone. If you have any questions about the process, please contact the Assessor’s office at 860.379.3359, ext. 206.

Earlier today, the dirt portion of Beech Hill Road opened for the season.

The Community & Senior Center is seeking candidates to succeed Dana Towers as Co-Director of the Center upon her departure in June. For more information, or to apply, please contact me at bbremer@colebrooktownhall.org.

An informational meeting will be held on Thursday, April 17th, at 6 p.m., at Colebrook Town Hall to provide interested residents with more details regarding a proposed food composting pilot program. A representative from USA Recycling will be on hand, as well as the chair of the Salisbury/Sharon Transfer Station Recycling Advisory Committee, to discuss their experience with composting.

The state is looking for input via survey on land values for the Public Act (PA) 490 program. PA 490 allows farm, forest water-front and open space lands to be assessed at current use value rather than fair market value. Surveys are due no later than Wednesday, April 23rd. Learn more here.

The Colebrook Associates annually awards scholarships to Colebrook residents. Applicants must be continuing their education as a new or continuing student at an accredited 4-year, 2-year, or certificate-granting institution. Applications are available at Town Hall. The deadline for submission is April 30th.

Applications for the Colebrook Lions Club scholarship program for graduating Colebrook high school seniors are available at the Guidance offices at Oliver Wolcott Technical High School and Northwestern Regional 7.

An integrated pre-school program available to Colebrook students is being offered this fall at Barkhamsted Elementary School. For more information, contact Daniela Belanger at 860.307.9170, or dbelanger@sharedservicesct.com.

Upcoming events and fundraisers

The Colebrook Lions Club will sponsor their annual Easter Egg Hunt this Saturday (April 12th) at 11 a.m., rain or shine, on the soccer field at Colebrook Consolidated School.

The Rec Board, in collaboration with McEnroe Fitness  is sponsoring a youth fitness event on Wednesday, April 16th, for students 4th through 12th grade. Colebrook youth are free. Learn more here.

The Community & Senior Center is hosting a Spring Tea on Sunday, May 4th  (Kentucky Derby weekend), from 9-11 a.m. Enjoy, tea, sandwiches and sweets, with proceeds to benefit Pinney Stables. Cost is $15/person. RSVP by April 28th at 860.738.9521, or at seniordirector@colebrooktownhall.org. Learn more here.

The annual Kids Fishing Derby, sponsored by the Colebrook Recreation Board, will be held on Sunday, May 18th, from 9-11 a.m. at the Colebrook Pond. Learn more here. Register here.

Upcoming municipal board meetings

Planning & Zoning Commission – Monday, April 14th, at 6:30 p.m. at Colebrook Town Hall (upstairs meeting room)

Board of Selectmen – Monday, April 14th, at 7 p.m. at Colebrook Town Hall (Land Use office)

Inland Wetlands – Tuesday, April 15th, at 6:30 p.m. at Colebrook Town Hall (Land Use office)

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at bbremer@colebrooktownhall.org, or call me at 860.379.3359, extension 202.

Cordially,

Brad

Brad Bremer

Colebrook First Selectman

860.379.3359 ext. 202

bbremer@colebrooktownhall.org