Braintree

The town still is at work repairing roads affected last year by Irene. Eight roads were badly damaged, according to Holly Jarvis in the town clerk’s office.

And while all were OK by winter, there is still gravel, paving and culvert repair work needed. Just over $2 million has been pledged to the town in obligated projects, of that they have seen just over $1 million, which is a combination of the state and FEMA assistance. Ten families were displaced by the floodwaters — eight of those have since fixed or rebuilt their homes.

Jarvis says the town will need to adjust tax rates in order to cover the costs ineligible for FEMA assistance, and the interest on their line of credit (“because we of course have to pay the bills before we are reimbursed for the work”) but the state has pledged to cover anything beyond a 3-cent increase on the tax rate.