NORWICH – The Norwich Town Board adopted its tentative 2009 budget Monday in an unanimous vote. Despite a threat of economic instability in the region, the town’s tax base continued to grow by more than three million dollars, again enabling the town to have no general tax.

“The town is happy to announce there is no general tax and that the local economy is still growing,” said Norwich Town Supervisor David C. Law.

Law said he couldn’t remember the last time the town had a general tax, saying, “Not since I’ve been in office, that was in 2004.”

Law explained that assessments had risen by $3 million and that the surplus gained from the growth would be contributed in part to the highway, lighting and water budgets and the city’s fire coverage contract costs.

Law said the residents would see a 24 cent drop per $1,000 on their highway costs, while seeing a 13 cent per $1,000 rise for the fire contract with the city.