In addition to the contested races for Select Board and Recreation Commission, Norfolk voters will decide on a debt exclusion for the construction project at Tri-County Regional Technical High School.

According to Town Administrator Robert Garrity, Norfolk’s debt assessment for fiscal 2027 will be $377,742, based on the 51 students from town who attend Tri-County.

Garrity pointed out that this will be the final year Norfolk will be paying for the addition and renovation project at King Philip Regional high and middle schools, which was completed in 2007. The debt payment will be $487,106 for fiscal 2026 and will be zero dollars in fiscal 2027, he said.

“Essentially, the Tri-County debt will partially replace the King Philip debt, meaning residents would not experience an increase in taxes due to debt exclusions between fiscal years 2026 and 2027,” said Garrity.

Should voters turn down the debt exclusion, the town will have to pay for the assessment with other funds, said Garrity. “Last year the town first used stabilization funds, the town’s ‘rainy day’ account, and then replaced that funding with Free Cash in the fall. This year we will not have the Free Cash able to do that, so we would have to use stabilization account funds, which is an unsustainable practice,” he added.

Built in 1977, the construction of a new Tri-County school is based on a study by Knight Batte Anderson Architects in 2016. The study showed outdated and deficient facilities, especially the lab classrooms, cafeteria and gymnasium. The current building also lacks appropriate security and fire suppression systems, and the cafeteria does not meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.

According to the March 2026 summary provided by Consigli Construction, the project manager, the project continues to proceed on schedule. This includes the construction of interior framing and drywall across the different floors.

Completion of the project is scheduled for the summer of 2027, and a total cost estimated at around $286 million. The Mass. School Building Authority will reimburse about $80 million to the school district.

Updates are available at https://www.tri-countybuilding.com/.