Mayor Bill Finch submitted to the City Council Monday night a budget that’s swimming in assumptions, except council members won’t know its details until today. The budget book hadn’t been printed in time for the council meeting. The council, as its custom, referred the mayor’s budget to the Budget and Appropriations Committee, which will conduct its first meeting tonight in City Hall.
Here’s what I know about the budget: it includes a tax increase based on what city bean counters say amounts to a financial portion of the voter referendum that handily approved one mil to fund city libraries services. One mil represents nearly $7 million. In addition, the budget relies on roughly $8 million in union concessions. What happens if the city does not achieve those concessions? Layoffs. But in what departments and how many? Negotiated labor wage agreements that backloaded raises for uniformed services kick in with this budget that starts July 1. So where does the city go for additional givebacks?
This budget also counts on a flatline Board of Education spending plan, the largest portion of the municipal budget. That means war between the BOE and the teachers union which has balked at past overtures for givebacks. The difference this year is new BOE finance chair Pat Crossin who’s made it clear no givebacks will lead to dramatic layoffs.
Big Wave Versus Mayor
Get ready for another Finch-Caruso showdown.
The latest involves a fight for the soul of the building that occupies the North End Boys & Girls Club on Madison Avenue, a community institution with roots back to the Civil War era, that’s fallen on hard times with diminished activities. A City Council resolution authorizes Mayor Finch to take the steps necessary to utilize the city-owned property for a fitting use.
Hold on a minute, says State Rep. Chris Caruso, a supporter of the recreational facility. The Big Wave says he and former Republican Mayor Lenny Paoletta met with city officials to win a commitment to support facility director Ken Bruno’s grant applications to modernize the facility. Caruso says he has secured $100,000 in state funds to keep the facility operational until Bruno’s grant applications run their course and revitalize the site.
Caruso says it’s a clear violation of an agreement, and he suspects the mayor’s motives.
“This is the Pinocchio syndrome,” said the Big Wave, referring to the mayor. “The same guy who promised a $600 tax cut. This is a power grab for a new tenant for someone supportive of the mayor, and a crusade against a nonprofit. I’ve tried to work with this administration, but this is politics at its worst. This totally defies logic. He’s breaking his word. If he can do this to the boys and girls club can you imagine what he’ll do to other nonprofits?”
Caruso says he’ll mobilize the community, including raising money for a legal challenge, to keep the building in the hands of the boys and girls club. Caruso added, to illustrate his commitment to the Madison Avenue site, his successful placement on the next state Bond Commission agenda money for a $2.5 million renovation of the Orcutt Boys & Girls Club on the East Side.
The Boys & Girls Club building on Madison Avenue sits in the district of City Council President Tom McCarthy. Big Mac says not enough has been done under Bruno’s leadership and the city must takes steps to re-energize the facility as a neighborhood sanctuary in light of state officials’ concerns that progress has not been made.
“My goal is to take a a recreational facility not being used and get it up and running for the kids of the North End,” says McCarthy. “The city has an obligation to provide services for the kids.”
McCarthy added the resolution is nothing more than an effort to support the mayor to make something happen with an underutilized facility.
Okay, now for the politics. Kenny Bruno has long been active with the recreation of young people in the city. He supported Caruso’s primary challenge for mayor against Finch in 2007. Does this issue have anything to do with that? City officials say that’s baloney, not enough’s been done, and state officials overseeing grant applications are losing patience with the lack of progress. The site is located on lower Madison Avenue near Central High School, just above North Avenue, across the street from the North End Correctional Center.
One thing’s for sure. Strap in for another battle between the Big Wave and Finch.
Jimmy Endorses George
As Connecticut Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz defends her legal qualifications to serve as attorney general, former State Majority Leader George Jepsen has been moving around the state schmoozing pols for his run for AG. He has picked up an endorsement from Congressman Jim Himes. From Jepsen:
Congressman Himes Announces Endorsement of George Jepsen for Attorney General
Hartford, CT – Today, Congressman Jim Himes announced his endorsement of George Jepsen to be the next Attorney General of Connecticut.
“Dick Blumenthal is leaving some pretty large shoes to fill, but I know that George Jepsen can step right in and immediately get to work. George has been a close counsel of mine for many years – he has the right experience, the sharp legal background, and the hard-earned record enhancing consumer protections and civil rights in the General Assembly to fight for us as our next Attorney General,” says Himes.
“I am happy to call him both a great leader and friend, and I urge voters to support his candidacy.”
Jepsen has over 26 years of legal experience and a proven legislative record as former Majority Leader of the State Senate.
“Congressman Himes has brought fresh energy and ideas to his district, and I am proud to announce his endorsement. I represented Stamford and Darien for many years and I will work hard to gain the support of the leaders in this Congressional district,” says Jepsen.
Learn more about the Jepsen campaign at www.georgejepsen2010.com
Before the mayor starts going after union concessions for a second time lets hear how he is going to lead by example.
Tell us how you are going to get rid of the consultants and the unnecessary workers and their benefits. Here is an example. Get rid of CitiStat, which basically does nothing except provide jobs for political pals. Dump 20% of your do-nothing office staff, get rid of of the horses and put those cops back on the street. Cut executive pay by 10%. This time really take away the cars from employees who take them home never mind registering them like they are regular vehicles with regular state plates. Stop creating jobs for political friends.
To the union membership be careful of your leadership.
Here we go with another DUH moment. If Bruno is having a difficult time securing his grant money and getting renovations off the ground, why doesn’t the Grants or Economic Development staff assist him? They have a full staff while Bruno has no one. But instead, the Finch administration goes after the Boys’ Club, which they know damn well will kickstart Caruso into action, giving him yet another campaign platform. Another dumb political move. Who is advising Finch anyway? Fire the bums!
We are looking into the Club story … meanwhile our story two weeks ago is now today’s lead story in CT Post. Money woes during this city budget season would be helped if we could get Obama give-away school money … we could get $190 million and it’s called Race to the Top.
Not everything has to be the result of politics in this city. Having had kids who used the North End Boys club and driving by it daily for years, this has always seemed (at least the last 10-12 years) to be on the verge of falling apart. That’s not the City’s fault or the current or previous mayors’.
Sometimes things have to be torn down and rebuilt and sometimes entrenched management has to give way to new management. That’s what this looks like to me.
Not everything is politics.
This organization has been mismanaged for the last 20 years. They need outside help or a new board and director. Check their financials before you piss any more money down an empty hole.
There is little doubt the city has money woes but the powers that be do not want to take the necessary steps to streamline government.
Take the BOE, nowhere in their budget do they talk about consolidating schools thus closing a few schools and saving money. Why is Dunbar getting a $4 million renovation when it is at less than 50% capacity? Why not incorporate Dunbar students into McKinley, or close Hall School and Edison School and send them to Dunbar?
In public facilities how many foremen do we need?
Why do we pay a pipefitter and a plumber a combined salary with OT in the neighborhood of $300K? Why don’t we privatize those jobs it has got to be cheaper. Let’s get out of the painting business and privatize that also. There are city functions that can be privatized and thus save the city money.
Why do we have 2 police departments? We have the regular police department and the school police. What do the school police cost us per year? Here is a suggestion for Joe Gaudett and the mayor. Let’s get the cops out into the street where they belong. You can blow smoke up our skirts all you want but 21 street cops per shift is bullshit. Get rid of the horses, community policing unit (BTW what they hell do they do other than wash their cars up there on Sylvan & Old Town). Get the cops off of Segways, ATVs and bicycles and get these cops back on the street. Let’s get the indoor cops outside. With this additional manpower we can do away with the school police and just pay for 1 police force and 1 chief. Let’s use the 20 new cops who are going to be hired from federal Funds to add to our street cops and thus eliminate the school police force and its chief BTW who is this chief anyway?
Surf’s Up!
Melvin Wearing is Bored of Ed. top cop.
The first thing the Unions should do, before they even sit down and discuss givebacks with the Mayor and the City, is demand to see the package offered by the City. If the City offers to duplicate the concessions asked of the unions, then, and only then, should the unions contemplate their own givebacks.
Also, good to see Judge Lopez fighting the “good” fight on the FOI issues. The City really doesn’t care how much it spends on legal battles or outside attorneys. They can’t expect employees to shoulder the burden of politics like this. We all know how the bastards work, and we’ll adjust accordingly!
BARF … There should be givebacks from every union and management as well. Union givebacks have to be negotiated; management givebacks can be mandated and should be done as a sign of leadership and shared sacrifice in tough times.
City salaries, benefits, pensions, sick time abuse are out of control. Of course the budget has to be balanced on the backs of the employees.
Or are you like most city workers who get their city job and then move to Naugatuck or Trumbull to get better schools and lower taxes and could give a rat’s ass about what the taxpayers of Bridgeport have to pay for your bloated packages?
I believe there is no ending your frustration …
I said, how can the City expect concessions when they don’t lead the way? There is absolutely no reason they haven’t followed suit after asking the unions for the same. Most unions HAVE already done more than the administration … and now they ask for more?
You agreed with me, then vented your frustration. I know it’s out of control, but the City leaders have done NOTHING to check it … have they?
It’s time for you to relax … there’s not much you can do.
*** “OIB” bloggers should take a couple of hours during some of the evenings the city depts budget hearings take place, to see for yourselves how the actual process is done and the Q&As asked & given. Especially during the bigger dept hearings like BOE or public facilities, & the city’s health dept.for starters. Pick your poison, see how many councilpersons show up for the meetings, etc. Bring a snack & water, you’ll be amazed @ some of the inner-working information you might hear, or not! And after it’s all said & done, you may understand a bit better why the city will be “relying so much” on future “$” (expectations & revenues) for a possible “near” balanced budget, after this current admin had not only criticized the previous Mayor for doing the same & also stated 2 years ago they would never follow suit to balance the city’s budget in that manner! *** As far as the Boys & Girls club is concerned, I would need more “$” info & future plans concerning the place, staff, and monthly expenses, etc. before making a personal opinion on its “?” outcome. *** Also, I like the horses & the whole professional appearance they bring to the city’s P/D, not to mention the important job they serve when having to move a large crowd with just a few men & horses doing it, etc. Besides the Horse P/D officers are in cars in the winter & the money saved by the city would be minimal @ least if they did get rid of them. Why is it that “some” in the Fire/Dept. are so against the horse-guard when there are Fire Marshals with take-home cars that live in Clinton, etc. @ least 25 miles or more away from Bpt? Taking another 10 minutes to switch cars once in Bpt is not going to make or break a fire marshall’s investigation if called in? There’s far more & bigger savings that can be had if the city’s budget were done by an experienced independent accounting firm without political relationship ties & the process overseen for Q&A by the council’s B&A committee before voting to accept or reject, etc.. *** “Time will tell!” ***
Suby makes me want to Barf.
blogs.courant.com/capitol_watch/2010/04/bysiewicz-abruptly-withdraws-r.html
Mojo I guess the Fire Dept comment is meant for me. I agree with you. The Fire Marshals should drive to the fire station to pick up their work vehicle. That’s how we used to do it, back then the only one that took a car home was the chief and the deputy on call. BTW that FM who lives in Clinton is gone.
The horses are a luxury we can no longer afford. Crowd control? What crowds? if we are going to tighten things up most everything should be on the table. How much OT is paid for the horse guard, what is the food and lodging bill plus the vet bill and someone has to groom the horses.
The Fire Marshals do drive with their personal cars and change over. Let’s get the information accurate. The only car taken home IS the Marshal who is on-call for Fire Investigations (Arson), and the Fire Marshal himself. I do believe that will end soon too. I agree, there is no reason for ANYONE to take home a city-owned vehicle, but the insurance company types might think otherwise.
That North End club is so run down. What happens, everyone wakes up when the Mayor decides to pull the plug? This has been a long time in the making. That neglect didn’t happen overnight. That non-profit board (is there one? has been asleep at the switch or letting their ‘director’ loose on the farm). This isn’t political. This is a simple matter of the kids deserve more. The Burroughs community center has been in a fundraising drive for quite a while now. All kinds of events. They are getting close to their goal. Enough is enough. That $100k from Caruso is too little too late. That facility needs lots and lots of money. The Mayor is right. Get it back from the existing leadership (a stretch I know) and put it out for another non-profit to put a package together to do something really significant for those kids. They deserve much more than what they have gotten thus far.
*** Crowd control, bluefish & arena activities, seasonal events in the parks, Vibes, parades, organized protest groups,etc.. Rather have it & not need it than need it & not have it! The horse guards, and 1 stable person along with some summertime volunteers take care of the horses. Also, the city gets a special rate given by the city’s animals vet. as well as many horse lovers that volunteer & give donations to the Bpt horse guard too! Again the benefits of having the horses outweighs the actual “$” amount that the city would save if indeed they decided to get rid of them! *** City admin. & BOE management in general need to lead by example in givebacks if they’re expecting more from the unions & workers. New city depts that create “no” revenue & so-called political consultants need to go if the Mayor is truly trying to cut city expenses. Also, certain schools that are half full need to be closed & the kids bused to another school with the room to save money. Tough measures must be taken now in hopes of preparing for much more leaner times ahead in the future. The city must prepare for the worst, even if it does not come & things improve! There’s no plan A without a plan B, etc., it builds character & promotes a sense of survival and unity, something much needed in city government & the Bpt school system besides just saving money. *** Suby is a typical woman, can’t make up her mind? Is this what we want for state governor or S/A/G? Bend the rules to suit Suby so she can have her cake & eat it too; hell “NO!” Good for Himes on his S/A/G pick, well done and Himes is & continuing to do a good job so far; and I voted for Shays! *** More savings for the city, non-essential city depts work 4 days a week instead of 5. Switch non-essential jobs from full-time to part-time or seasonal. All city services housed in privately owned leased buildings should be moved to city-owned properties within the near future if possible. Many summer jobs for city teens can be made & paid minimum wages per grants supported by the state, feds. and many business districts in & out of Bpt. To promote a cleaner, greener, friendly public services feeling, plus music & the arts type environment in our city parks; even if just for summer! While city workers are on summer vac. why not have some of the unskilled labor jobs done by our city teens for less in the summer months, providing the Unions & workers give their blessings to allow time for the bigger-type jobs to be done? I know, I know, I’m getting a bit carried away but hell it’s going to take teamwork to get this city through the tough times ahead & bring a sense of unity for a good cause, our city & its people! ***