NORFOLK - Money issues again will dominate the local landscape this coming year, local officials say.

"Money is our problem. We are looking at a level-funded budget even to come in balanced," Selectmen Chairman James Lehan said of spending for the fiscal year starting July 1.

It is too early to discuss another Proposition budget override, officials say. "We don't know what the impact of a level-funded budget is," Lehan said. "Once we get an understanding of the price to pay, if we can't cover fire shifts, put police on the streets, I don't know how you go to the town" to ask for an override.

Two years ago, the elementary schools received almost $700,000, or about 60 percent, of a $1.2 million override.

School committee members have taken serious steps stretching back to last year, including reorganizing the library program, and this year laying the groundwork to begin charging transportation fees for next school year. "They also have to look at how they are spending the dollars they do have," said Lehan, a former school board member. "It is one thing to say you need more money. You need to be sharing with the community how the money is spent. We have very small class sizes and a very high step system for teachers contracts."

Lehan said if the school budget rises the 6 to 8 percent a year the school committee maintains is needed, the budget would double within a decade.

"This town can't afford that," Lehan said. "We have to start cutting costs."

School officials estimate $1 million in services have been cut out of the school budget over the past five years. It is also estimated about $890,000 has been saved in recent years by schooling special needs students in local schools instead of sending them to expensive out-of-district locations.

"Our goal is to save as many teaching positions as we possibly can," school committee Chairwoman Kim Williams said of why transportation changes are planned.

With voters last year rejecting an override that would have set aside $300,000 a year for vehicles, a challenge remains to fund the repair and replacement of an aging vehicle fleet, town officials say.

"How do we run a town on limited resources?" Lehan said. "It is hard. We are an aging population, with people on fixed incomes."

As for building requirements, the police and fire departments have needed new facilities for years.

"We do have issues with police and fire. We do need a new facilty there, and Freeman-Centennial is a very old school," Lehan said. "We have long-term needs but also expiring debt. If we can time the new construction at a time of the expiring debt, we might be fortunate to trade dollars and don't have to increase the tax burden."

Housing growth continues to be a concern as the town faces challenges continuing to provide services in a community that has little commercial tax base. There is some light on the horizon, with some commercial development expected to arrive soon to bring in desired tax dollars.

"Town center, that is looking really good," Lehan said. "It is the first time in a long time we are very optimistic."

A supermarket and pharmacy are planned downtown - the town has neither - and those are projected to bring in about $300,000 annually in revenue.

Also, an industrial park is being built on Route 1A near the Wrentham line.

With a typical home valued at $477,600, affordable housing is another key issue. New age-restricted affordable housing complexes should help the town's older residents.

The town is working to get an affordable housing plan approved by the state.

Also, the town's master plan that guides town growth is being updated by a committee of volunteers working with the planning board.

The town has also faced a challenge of getting enough volunteers to serve on boards and committees, however, including years of effort to get an economic development commission off the ground.