Voters on Tuesday approved a $1.4 million bond request to build a new combined fire and police station by a margin of nearly 3 to 1, putting to rest a debate over the improvements that lasted at least a decade.
The margin, 1,561-580, indicated overwhelming public favor after last year's failure of two costlier proposals at the polls.
As approved, the bond would pay for the demolition of the aging police station and the merging of emergency services into one downtown facility of about 5,900 gross square feet.
Town officials estimate that the town portion of residents' property tax rates will increase during the first year of bonding (2019) by less than a penny (.07 cents) per $100 of assessed valuation. That equates to $28.28 on a $400,000 house.
Standing outside the polls on Tuesday evening, Paul Tuhus said he had voted in favor of the bond because improvements for the town's emergency services facilities were long past due.
As it stands, officials and residents in Norwich have been discussing the project for the better part of this century -- since before Robinson joined the department in 2002.
"I think the public is happy because the budget has come down," Selectboard Chairwoman Linda Cook said, referring to the cost of the project. "This has brought the community together to help the two departments be more professional in the look of their buildings."