www.towntimes.com
Volume 23, Number 26
Friday, November 24, 2017
Town wants to bring former Korn Durham School’s future up for referendum aims to lower
By Lauren Takores Town Times
By Lauren Takores Town Times
The Durham Board of Selectmen are exploring whether to conduct a feasibility study in the process of acquiring the former Francis E. Korn Elementary School.
First Selectman of Durham Laura Francis announced Tuesday the town will be able to lower its mill rate from 39.5 to 37.58, pending approval of the Board of Selectmen at its Nov. 27 meeting.
The study will determine what building codes and issues have to be addressed when its use changes from a school to a municipal gathering place. This will include a cost estimate. “We need to do that to get to referendum,” said First Selectman Laura Francis. At Monday’s board meeting, Francis said she wants a referendum on the ballot next November asking voters if they approve funding to own, renovate and operate Korn as a community center. “One thing I heard loud and clear is that the town should not seek to own another building without the townspeople’s agreement to renovate and operate the building,” she said, “and a clear understanding of the cost.” The plan to turn Korn into a commu-
Residents will see a reduction of approximately 4.87 percent in their real estate and personal property bill, according to a news release. The reduction will be applied to the second installment. Motor vehicle bills will not be affected.
The former Francis E. Korn Elementary School.
nity center was revealed in June. Durham would swap with RSD13 a six-acre parcel of land on Tuttle Road near Brewster Elementary School for the Korn building and its surrounding six acres of land. The school district has been paying down the debt service on the outstanding bond associated with Korn renovations. Since both Durham and Middlefield share RSD13, Durham would assume
Middlefield’s remaining debt, paying Middlefield about $27,000 per year for five years.
The state legislature approved language, the governor’s signature pending, this past week that will enable Durham to adjust the approved mill rate downward to reflect the actual state revenue approved.
“The reasoning behind that was that (Durham) would be getting a better asset because of those renovations,” Francis said. “That clearly is a sticking point.” On Monday, Francis announced that a memorandum of understanding
In June, the Board of Finance set the mill rate of 39.5, based on a projected 50 percent cut in state funding to Durham. While there was a cut in state aid when the state budget was subsequently adopted, it is less than was anticipated, Francis said in the news release.
From A0See School, A18
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In the coming weeks, there will be a communication from Tax Collector Martin French with details on how the adjustment will be reflected in bills. A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) sheet will be posted online. Francis can be reached at 860-349-3625 or LFrancis@ townofdurhamct.org.