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When it comes to the City Council, those budget interrogators John Marshall Lee and Andy Fardy are like Lieutenant Colombo coming back for more. In their capacity as charter members of Budget Oversight Bridgeport (BOB) General Lee and his gumshoe budget lieutenant Fardy needle council members about city spending practices. The city’s budget book can [...]
Entries Categorized as 'City Budget'
‘A Couple Of Loose Ends I’d Like To Tie Up’–Budget Question For Council Members, Defunded Or Eliminated?
May 12th, 2012 · 3 Comments · Analysis and Comment, City Budget, City Council
“Let Me Tell You How It Will Be, There’s One For You, Nineteen For Me, ‘Cause I’m The Tax Man”
May 10th, 2012 · No Comments · City Budget, News and Events
Yeah yeah, don’t ya just love those George Harrison lyrics? Mayor Bill Finch has named Tax Collector Anne Kelly-Lenz acting finance director following the departure of Dawn Norton who became chief financial officer of New Canaan. Veronica Jones has been appointed acting tax collector. Details from the mayor:
Tags: Bill Finch·Dawn Norton·Housatonic Community College·Sacred Heart University
City Whites Out White’s Job–Lee: A Hatchet Job
May 8th, 2012 · 27 Comments · Analysis and Comment, City Budget, City Council
It always sucks to learn your job has been eliminated. Worse when you hear it from an outside source. Tom White for years has served as legislative services director providing staff support for the City Council. His job was eliminated as a result of the City Council vote Monday night. There were indications he had [...]
Council Votes On The Budget–The Meaning Of Declaring Victory
May 7th, 2012 · 12 Comments · Analysis and Comment, City Budget, City Council, City Politics, Education, News and Events
The full Bridgeport City Council Monday night, following the lead of its budget committee, cut back Mayor Bill Finch’s budget proposal in what the mayor and council leadership describe as a compromise. Residents will pay more, but not as much as originally presented. The budget process isn’t about how it starts, it’s all about how [...]
Tags: Andy Fardy·Bill Finch·John Marshall Lee·Pat Fardy·Paul Vallas
Budget Committee Cuts Finch’s Spending Request, Including $2 Million From Schools–Mayor Announces Compromise
May 7th, 2012 · 10 Comments · Analysis and Comment, City Budget, City Council
UPDATE: The City Council’s Budget and Appropriations Committee on Saturday, following a morning session that lasted well into the afternoon at the City Hall Annex, slashed Mayor Bill Finch’s budget request, including $2 million from the mayor’s proposal for $7 million more for city schools. The budget committee dropped Finch’s proposed mil rate increase from 2.7 to [...]
Tags: Angel DePara·Bill Finch·Bob Curwen·John Slater·Tom McCarthy
Republicans Protest Mayor’s Budget
May 5th, 2012 · 6 Comments · City Budget, City Council, News and Events
A Saturday afternoon rally organized by city Republicans protests Mayor Bill Finch’s budget proposal that calls for a 2.7 mil increase including $7 million more for city schools. The tax hit, if approved by the City Council, represents an increase of more than $400 for the average homeowner. The city’s legislative body will vote on [...]
Tags: Bill Finch
Ghostbusters Beware–There’s Ectoplasm In The Budget
May 15th, 2012 · 5 Comments · Analysis and Comment, City Budget, City Council
Ectoplasm? Leave it to the indomitable budget busters from BOB (Budget Oversight Bridgeport) to conduct a séance over the city budget. In their latest commentary about the magic that is the city budget, John Marshall Lee and Andy Fardy try to shake out the meaning of ghost positions. As for the meaning of “ectoplasm” you’re [...]
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Tags: Andy Fardy·Bill Finch·John Marshall Lee·Tom Sherwood