Norton council approves proclamation to put 0.5% sales-tax question before voters, schedules town hall

The Norton City Council on Monday approved a proclamation to submit a 0.5 percent citywide retailer sales-tax question to voters, and scheduled a town-hall meeting for May 28 to explain the plan.

Dallas Gosselin, who volunteered to present the initiative, told the council the proposal is intended to finance a 10‑year infrastructure program that prioritizes in‑house pavement preservation and equipment purchases such as an asphalt zipper (miller), tack‑oil distributor, chip spreader and crack sealer. "This plan is not a blank check without a purpose, without a timeline," Gosselin said, adding the package is intended to build local capacity rather than rely solely on contractors. The council voted to approve the proclamation 5–1.

Gosselin presented a budget example the council will use for planning: he estimated a 10‑year 0.5% tax could yield roughly $2,160,000 after a 20% contingency assumption and showed a sample annual debt‑service payment of about $276,000 to bond equipment purchases. The council emphasized the tax term is proposed as time‑limited (10 years) and that specifics will be detailed at the May 28 town hall in the East Canopus Auditorium at 6 p.m.

The proclamation sets the process in motion; if adopted by the council and certified, the question will appear on the regular election ballot as described in the proclamation. The town hall will be an opportunity for residents to review estimates, ask questions and provide input prior to any final ballot language being adopted.