The City Council tonight will formally set the mil rate for the budget year that begins July 1 at 41.85 up from 41.11 which represents roughly a $125 tax increase on the average city homeowner.
Last month the council approved a $517 million budget referred by the Budget and Appropriations Committee, a spending plan $3 million less in total from the budget recommended by Mayor Bill Finch, with a series of revisions made to revenues and expenditures. The mayor’s budget proposal had called for a 2.5 mil increase.
Although some community fiscal watchdogs contend the council did not cut enough from the mayor’s spending plan, several members of the budget committee say they heard the loud voices of taxpayers at public hearings. They argue the tax hike could have been a lot worse. This is an election year for the council. District endorsements will take place in July with potential Democratic primaries in September. The general election is in November.
City Council agenda is here.
*** A $3 million less spending plan from the original slap in the face “Mayor’s proposed budget” is somewhat better but still stinks and should have been rejected completely from the beginning by the B&A committee thus putting all the blame on the Mayor’s lap to tweak and make better, no? I don’t buy the “it’s better than the original Mayor’s proposal” excuse for voting on this cutthroat budget! And once again, except for a few and some recent members who just got on the city council with “less than six months;” most do “not” have a clue about what they’re doing and why! Especially when it comes to the city budget and all the song & dances along with the smoke & mirror legal, “we’ll get back to you” mumbo-jumbo! *** VOTE FOR CHANGE IF FOR NOTHING ELSE THIS NOV. ***
Mojo–you are right. There is no excuse for this tax increase. I hope the members of the City Council don’t spend a lot of time congratulating themselves. They should be ashamed of themselves for not standing up to the Mayor. The notion certain parts of the budget are untouchable (for instance the Mayor’s bloated office budget) is ridiculous. Voting on your own raise or voting on your own raise and not even knowing it, is inexcusable. Elections are coming up and memories are not as short as these folks think.
So the B & A committee claims they heard the public comments and did their best, what a crock. They hardly cut anything from the budget, in fact it was Tom Sherwood who made the cuts.
They did not review the mayor’s office budget request, WHY? They did not raise hell about that either.
The B & A committee did not ask Chief Gaudett why his salary account shows the 48 police officers paid for by the feds are shown in his budget. Are these the new ghost positions?
The budget committee is made up of some of the rudest people in government, they very seldom start their meetings on time and there are times they did not have a quorum. They switch locations from City Hall to the Annex and this just confuses people, I understand this was Brannelly’s idea. Their public hearings are a joke they sit there like statues and do not respond to the public.
No one on the budget committee commented when asked why 24 departments overspent their budgets.
I do give a shit how small the tax increase is. There is no need for a tax increase if the budget committee did their job and not what Sherwood told them to do. There was no need for a tax increase last year if they did not fund 80 ghost positions.
Andy,
You are right on!
*** Without “ghost positions” in-house emergency services in general O/T would have to curtail completely along with other big cuts. That’s all O/T money “if needed” or “raid” the city general fund, no? *** There’s always a “method to the madness!” ***
Andy, with three years under our belts of close-up observation of the City Council, perhaps it is time for us to admit: THE CITY COUNCIL IS DOING ITS JOB. THEY GIVE THE MAYOR WHAT HE WANTS WHILE MAKING BELIEVE THEY REPRESENT US.
Look at the Mayor’s budget proposal. Where was the problem we needed to tackle that required more taxes? Where was the issue that would get support from voters? It was not there.
Meanwhile public safety overtime was overflowing the budget by millions with no explanation. Now we see what labor relations did with fire and police contracts.
One year ago the community was focused on education and the youth in the classroom needing structural transformation and money. Did this budget from the Mayor meet MBR of CT? Does anyone care? Why aren’t the adult groups that have been opposing each other relative to parent representation come to a CC meeting and ask them about City commitments? Time will tell.
The City Council FAILED to avoid a tax increase. Several of them should lose their jobs in November if we want to “hold the line” on taxes in the future. The current Administration and City Council evidently don’t have the willingness and ability to do so.
Annual nominal increases in Federal spending make for annual nominal municipal tax increases, too. I cannot name a city or state that has been immune. Bridgeport does not have a $16 trillion debt–your former employer does!
Throughout history, a debt of that magnitude has never been repaid. Maybe Dave Walker walked away from his old job because he considered federal debt relief to be hopeless. Don’t disparage Bridgeport–you and your wife found your dream home here. (nod)
Really? The fact the Federal government is in debt shouldn’t have an effect on any city’s mil rate or state tax. The Federal government can always print more money–a luxury not afforded to states and cities.
Local Eyes,
Believe it or not, my wife and I would have to endorse over both of our entire Social Security checks when we become eligible just to pay the property taxes on our Bridgeport home. That is more of a nightmare than a dream!
Local Eyes,
I just state the facts and tell the truth. I have always done that, including during my time as U.S. Comptroller General. The reasons I left that job are a matter of public record. I had accomplished all of my objectives but one and that could not be done from the CGOTUS position. The federal government doesn’t need to be debt free and the state and local governments don’t either. However, the federal government, State of Connecticut and City of Bridgeport all have serious structural deficit problems that need to be dealt with. In addition, the federal government can print money but state and local governments can’t. Some people can’t hear the truth and sometimes it hurts. However, stating the truth is a necessary precursor to achieving transformational change. That’s what we need at all levels of government and hopefully we’ll get it. It does, however, take real leadership.
Mr. Walker, save your breath. Eventually you will realize Local Eyes is a total arsehole.