Ganim’s Reelection Juggle: New City Revenues While Courting State Financial Support

In about four weeks Mayor Joe Ganim will submit his election-year budget to the City Council. It will not include a tax increase. The larger question is, can Ganim trim taxes a bit from the current 54 mils? That depends on state revenue to the city coupled with the city’s grand list growth.

The unannounced grand list of taxable property is up measurably, according to City Hall insiders, led largely by PSEG’s $500 million Bridgeport Harbor Station energy plant conversion under construction in the South End. Those cranes you see from the distance on I-95 are bolstering new revenues. Additional dough is also coming in from Steelpointe Harbor redevelopment area and new housing starts.

It’s tempting to trumpet new tax growth. And that’s the rub of good news: how to maximize state dollars without waving pompoms about grand list growth. If you’re doing so much better why do you need more from us? It’s a balancing act.

The city budget process by charter is often at the mercy of the state budget, now a work in progress. How much more can be extracted from the state for city schools, payments in lieu of taxes and infrastructure support? Those items represents millions of dollars that can dramatically impact a municipal spending plan.

Ganim’s budget submission will be referred to the Budget and Appropriations Committee where the nuts and bolts of examining the spending plan is performed. It’s a labor-intensive committee process.

In an election year, mayors traditionally leave some room in the budget for council members to cut to take on the campaign trail that they’re monitoring the store. In this budget, however, Ganim will maximize a tax message he can take to the streets.

So far Ganim’s key challenge comes from State Senator Marilyn Moore who’s juggling her legislative responsibilities with a series of fundraisers back home. As Ganim submits his budget proposal in April, Moore will file her first quarter campaign finance report with the Town Clerk’s Office that will show her initial fundraising strength.

Unless someone else high profile gets into the mayoral race soon, the 2019 election cycle will come down to Ganim and Moore. Time is running out for others given the necessity to raise money.

Ganim will leverage his relationships in Hartford to the cause of three straight years without a tax increase. His first budget upon return to office in 2015 came during a revaluation year that was put off by his predecessor Bill Finch. Higher taxed neighborhoods such as Black Rock were hit the hardest and residents there still feel the sting, a natural constituency for Moore to work.

Meanwhile Moore, too, can leverage state relationships to highlight proposals on the campaign trail. She was an early supporter of Ned Lamont for governor. Lamont’s relationship with Ganim is solid given their testy gubernatorial primary, but there’s something to be said for Moore supporting Lamont early. Moore said no to Lamont to be his running mate. She also could be a state commissioner, had she wanted it. In her existential viewpoint, she wants to be mayor.

Unless something quirky occurs, Lamont will not publicly get in the middle of a Ganim-Moore campaign skirmish, but he has the ability to quietly steer campaign money her way and lend a hand for issues that matter to Moore. Where will she cash in good will with Lamont? More education dollars? A commercial casino for the city? Something else? All of the above?

Moore will need something to call her own to counter Ganim’s me-too rejoinder such as clarity on what separates her from Ganim on economic development, public safety, education and government reform.

Campaign 2019 is now in full bloom. Ganim will make his case for another four-year contract with voters while Moore must persuade electors to fire him.