The budget process is not about where it starts but where it ends. A number of assumptions are factored into Mayor Joe Ganim’s budget proposal to the City Council. He’s calling for a modest 0.25 percent cut in the tax rate as well as $2 million more for public schools, a nod to the education advocacy group Faith Acts For Education that called on him to commit to that as a minimum during a public forum shortly after his reelection, but still in the larger picture not exactly a windfall after the district was essentially flat-funded by local dollars the prior four years.
See mayor’s proposed budget here.
At the start of the 2019 reelection campaign Ganim was blind to the electorate’s anger over school spending. That, and a poorly run primary campaign, nearly cost him the mayoralty. Surviving the primary against State Senator Marilyn Moore, Ganim beefed up positions on schools and the tax rate, promising more loot for education and a tax cut for 2020.
A number of assumptions are in this budget impacted by the health emergency. Bridgeport is reliant on state dollars, particularly to fund education, payments in lieu of taxes for public buildings, colleges and hospitals. The legislature is not actively in session due to Covid-19. When will it reconvene? Also, how will the tax collection rate hold up given the state of the economy?
The city can leverage borrowing via tax anticipation notes to meet spending obligations until the economy recovers.
The Budget & Appropriations Committee will spend the next several weeks, including three virtual public hearings scheduled, deliberating the spending plan. Once voted out of committee it goes to the full council for ratification in May followed by a potential mayoral veto window. The final mil rate will be set early June, if the typical budget process plays out amid the health crisis.
Lennie, great point, “The budget process is not about where it starts but where it ends,” and with Covid-19 costing state budgets to spend money on saving lives will prevent cities budgets statewide from receiving tax dollars to help local budgets. States now have to wait for the federal government to supplement states for the shut down of cities economy and tax collections.
Great point about the leadership of Faith Acts For Education, that called on Ganim to commit to his $2 million more for public schools that as a minimum during a public forum shortly after his reelection. I’m waiting to see how many high paying staff members that have been hired by Ganim who will get pink slips. This budget is dead on arrival.
He was also blinded by the light of his gubernatorial run.
Joe Ganim is still blinded by the light of another run for governor, just look at his his so call PSA, (Public Service Announcements.”
He is also taking credit for having the lowest confirmed cases of Coronavirus. Of course he also has the lowest percent of those tested but let’s not destroy a good story line with facts.
Platform envy.
Ganim is trying to create relevancy by positioning himself as a leader.
What office will he try for now?
Can a felon serve in Congress?
Good points Bob and Tom, Ganim is trying to do a me too to the 3 governors of New York, New Jersey and Lamont here in Conn. Joe looking at Biden getting elected and Senator Murphy and Rep. Hines both getting federal appointments thereby leaving to open position now held by Democrats. Hey Joe, what are the numbers for Bridgeport with COVID-19 and how many who are positive are people of color especially now that you are putting your curfew to stop the spread, so Joe what are the numbers?
I notice that Mayor Ganim didn’t mentioned anything in his letter about funding help for Bridgeport from Governor Lamont, I wonder why. Below is a small portion from the New Haven Independent newspaper.
New Haven Independent
by Sam Gurwitt | Apr 7, 2020 3:11 pm
Last week, he said, Gov. Ned Lamont notified towns that they will receive some form of block-grant-like aid due to Covid-19 that can be used for education, public safety, community services, and economic development.
David Bednarz, a spokesperson for Lamont, said in an email to the Independent that Connecticut should receive $1.45 billion from the federal CARES Act. “A portion of that money will be distributed to municipalities to offset expenses related to the pandemic,” he wrote. The exact amount of aid to each town is “still under development.”
This guy is now acting just like Trump. He issues an order, then changes it, then changes it again when someone complains.
Give it a break. Bridgeport is the only city with a curfew that may or may not be enforced.
Shamas will you run this city right?
Ganim made a very weak effort to stop killings by “trying” to enforce a curfew that had no power, so now he’s trying to backdoor the curfew again.
Wasn’t there a church called St. Assumptions?
I’ll assume you know what you’re talking about.
Just another reason to stay away from Bridgeport.
Even the Coronavirus does bother going there.
HAHA@Bob…That should be on bumper stickers..
Lennie, When is the Virtual OIB Party?
Sonny, it may be via your radio show.
Wow, all this after Mayor Ganim and Mario are willing to cut your tax mill rate by 1/4 of one percent? He’s giving the BBOE $2 million even though they are underfunded by $14 million? You guys are never satisfied!
Of course, with Connecticut and Bridgeport having already been on financial life-support, pre-CVD-19, any Bridgeport “budget” exists only in the minds of the CC and Administration… The tax-receipts that would represent the real side of the otherwise “wish-list” document that juxtapositions spending “decisions” with not-likely-to be-realized revenue, will, no doubt, ultimately present as the largest budget hole in City history, given that CVD-19 will shutter much of our scant, remaining, commercial grand list, even as it drives much of our residential population into bankruptcy/compromised financial straits…
So: the Bridgeport, 2020-2021 budget will likely exist mainly as a set of unfunded, unattainable “goals”…
And; has the Administration spoken with Governor Lamont about how the (economically-hollow) state might help to shore-up the collapsing Bridgeport economy and otherwise bankrupt municipal reality of the City?
This is the year that Bridgeport truly must face its reality — even as much of the rest of world does the same…
There will not be a “real” budget this year, folks — absent a Marshall Plan for US Cities. Even the “wealthy” towns are going to have to think in terms of drastic measures to garner the revenue needed to keep municipal functioning at a flat level… The “Bridgeports” of the world?… Forgetaboutit….