Operating in financial darkness for decades, the Bridgeport City Council has finally hired its own budget analyst to help navigate a $560 million proposed budget, instead of relying on bean counters from the executive branch of government. Wow, a novel approach to checks and balances in government.
More from CT Post reporter Brian Lockhart:
Spencer Cain and his numbers-crunching expertise has been imported from Hartford, where he enjoyed a 30-year career as a research and budget analyst for the Legislature before founding consulting firm Cain Association, LLC.
Cain and his staff will, according to the contract with the Council, earn $7,400 over the next two months to “identify and evaluate key issues in the development of the budget.”
Chief among their responsibilities will be reviewing department operating budgets, helping to establish budget priorities, double-checking City Halls revenue estimates, recommending “untapped” sources of revenue, and helping to navigate the ongoing budget mess at the Capitol in Hartford.
Full story here.
It’s a step in the right direction but I wish the public knew who the other finalists were. Judging from the state’s budget deficit I am not sure if governmental experience like that is what Bridgeport needs.
“Burns added it is also nice to have someone “who can look at everything with a fresh set of eyes to say, ‘Did you look at this? Did you think about that?'”
This is from one of the most recently endorsed city council candidates from the 130th district–the same district where the former budget committee chair was from. John Marshall Lee was one of Burn’s Democratic primary challengers. Talk about IRONY. For many years, John Marshall Lee has been doing exactly what councilmen Burns stated for FREE. How nice is that, Mr. Burns?
I assume Mr. Cain was not employed by the Independent Office of Fiscal Analysis. No one can say for sure he will be independent in his analysis of our budget. I’m going to pay attention to any recommendation of “untapped sources of revenue” as this is key to getting out of the budget mess we are in. I get the feeling Mr. Cain was hired to provide cover for an inexperienced legislative body and perhaps try to derail Ganim’s attempt to fix the mess they created. Kill the messenger and his Abel men. This shit is OIBiblical.
www .youtube.com/watch?v=Hzgt4KDOBVQ
The City Council needs to make sure sufficient controls are in place over the current budget deficit to make sure the city taxpayers are not funding a Joe Ganim slush fund for future years.
This consultant needs to be available also for quarterly reviews.
Bob, I’m concerned about what connections this company has with the State Democrats. It’s a small world in doing business and everybody knows everybody and they still want to continue to do business with Democrats.
Bob and Ron, in this case independence is as important as competency. Those two qualities remain to be seen, but in Bridgeport eventually everything and everyone sees the light of day. The problem is by the time they do, the damage is done.
Absolutely, Ron. It’s a small world in CT Democratic politics.
McCarthy hires this start-up company from Hartford and then will seek support from Nancy DiNardo with Trumbull Dems to get the endorsement for State Senate.
For sure it is connected.
I defer to the political experience and ‘smarts’ of each of you gentlemen as to the out-of-sight deal making that may have occurred in this case.
However, Tom McCarthy has had an opportunity for years to make amends for terminating previous legislative support because the City employee had the temerity to ask a question or two. Is a candidate with that history (including Bridgeport’s increased problems during the time period) going to run well in Trumbull or Monroe? McCarthy has been on the Airport Commission, City Hall Commission (think City-owned property), was part of Labor Relations with its budget-busting contracts when Public Safety pensions left Bridgeport for Hartford and no comment from Tom to the Council members, at budget time or anytime, in the public record, and proved the difficulty of being a progressive representative when tied up with conflicts of interest of multiple varieties. Can this fiscal advisor bring some hints and positioning to the process for the Council members? Time will tell.
Nancy DiNardo does not control the Trumbull Democratic Town Committee, nor is she a delegate to the D22 Convention that will choose the official party candidate.
Both Senator Moore and Tom McCarthy addressed the TDTC last Monday night and asked for our individual 15 votes at the D22 Convention. I have had calls from both of them seeking my vote and offering to answer any questions I might have.
I saw Nancy DiNardo at the D22 meeting at Testo’s this past week. She entered the room and stopped and said hello. She did not discuss politics and moved on to another meeting in the building.
In no way could Tom McCarthy’s choice of a $7,400 contractor deliver votes from Trumbull. A contract that size in government doesn’t even merit a cup of coffee.
Marshall, how is the Trumbull delegate force leaning? Moore or McCarthy?
Lennie, are you hearing the crickets? I hate pols who run their mouths, blog, etc., then hide when questions are asked.
Joel,
Not hiding. Lennie posted Sunday night about 10 PM. I was already off the computer for the night. Today was a busy work day. Now I have some free time and will answer.
There has been no caucus of the Trumbull delegates yet. I have received emails from a few delegates stating they are supporting McCarthy and their reasons for doing so. I have not received any emails or calls from delegates stating they are supporting Sen. Moore. I spoke with Sen. Moore this week and explained I am examining both candidates and have not yet made a decision how I’ll vote.
BTW, I’m not a ‘pol’ but a rank and file member of the TDTC who volunteers his time for the betterment of the community. As someone who makes his living not working for government I can’t spend the day glued to my computer following blogs and replying instantly.
“A contract that size in government doesn’t even merit a cup of coffee.”
What’s your contract price for a cup of coffee?
I’m not in position to hire, recommend or accept a gratuity for helping anyone land a contract.
To quote the MasterCard commercial, the answer is Priceless.
I’m not for sale.
Bubba, since when does a council president have the authority to hire or fire anyone???
OIB readers of all persuasions:
1. Please note my writing going back more than five years has discussed the abject position of City Council members who are intended to be an informed and independent branch of municipal government when they are without appropriate legislative assistance. For years they have had a line item approximating $90,000 annually which most years has gone unspent and unreduced, but rather fills in the overspending in other departments at year end.
2.There are TWO budgets that require study and approval each year: a Capital budget and the Operating Budget. Many readers are confused by this, but they have different effects on taxpayers. A Capital budget is a listing of permanent or lasting structures, projects, etc. where funds can be borrowed in Capital markets with the full faith and credit of City taxpayers standing behind the promise. Approximately $40 million has routinely sought approval for schools, Planning and Econ Development, Fire, Police, Public Facilities, etc. when authorized, then actually bonded, and put to work on projects and then completed. The City Council (nor the Public taxpayer) has no place to look for a reporting of the PAST FIVE YEAR action subsequent to approval and bonding. Why not? If $40 Million is borrowed, over the next 20 years about $66 Million will be required to repay each bond. That means $2 Million per year in principal repayment and $1.3 Million in interest each year. That $3.3 Million of payment on things purchased five, 10 and 15 years ago is still current for 20 years even if the items are broken, gone, or never really used.
3. What is the priority of Capital budget items within each department if there is no inventory listing for the B&A committee, if they are not well informed on mechanical, rolling stock, financing fleets, etc.? What if they have to vote before hearing from a Department to make a presentation or get back to them with requested info because of schedules and deadlines?
4. I am in agreement with Bob Walsh that identifying the qualifications sought from professionals as well as background experience offered by candidates would be helpful to a casual observer at this point. It does not surprise me the City has played this close to the vest, but a familiarity with how the Executive Branch deals with the Legislative Branch is a worthwhile assist to the outlook for our City Council as they go about looking at the financial numbers and the story presented to gain CC approval.
5. Mr. Cain spoke briefly to the handful of CC members at adjournment of the 9-Noon Saturday session. He spoke to the issue of providing some lasting value for the monitoring process throughout the year that will make them potentially less helpless at budget time next year. There are no worthwhile and transparent metrics available to budget decision makers. How are you accountable for integrity in the process of spending funds without more open, more regular reports of accountability for money and people? Time will tell.
Thank you John Marshall Lee and Andy Fardy, for the many years and dedicated service to the taxpayers of this city, finally a city council that listens!
In the famous words of Donald Trump, “You’re Both Fired!”
Let’s hope the city council takes the recommendations of the Cane group in its entirety.
Jim Fox,
READY … FIRE … AIM!!!
Aren’t you relying very heavily on this CANE (although he spells his name Cain)?
Don’t you want to see or hear what he comes up with in terms of usable revenues, budget cuts, or postponements of Capital Budget items until better backup is provided?
If an average of only 10 Council members are attending the budget sessions, how can taxpayers conclude as you do, “finally a city council that listens!” How can you hear what is happening in the discussion if you are absent, indeed if the subject is not worthy of your attention? Time will tell.
John. Yes, yes, no, yes.
The CT Post story is short on details. Did the writer review the findings of the Board of Public Purchases? Who were the other two finalists? Was there actually a formal bid or did McCarthy simply call his Democrat party connections for names?
Did the CT Post writer verify the purchasing ordinance threshold is actually $25,000 as he was told? Apparently not. The threshold is $7,500. (I served on the Board of Public Purchases for five years). Perhaps this explains the price of $7,400.
Cain’s D&B competitive ranking is unimpressive. Did anyone check it?
More importantly, this is a an example of what I cite as lessons lost while the city’s finances were scrutinized by the Financial Review Board. Charter revision of 1993 allows the city council to establish the Office of Legislative Services. It was done, only to be undone by McCarthy in favor of the city council being totally dependent on the mayor’s city staff for explanation of all budgetary matters.
Will this be helpful? Sure. the city council will continue to have ‘budget review’ sessions with no clue of what they committed to in previous budgets and how those decisions impact the current situation. Once again, a mostly new group of people will gather and they will somehow have the ability and wisdom to understand the budget.
Lennie, your lead-in, “operating in financial darkness for decades,” suggests the city council is committed to the challenging role of budget oversight.
The financial review board provided the needed expertise until they lost interest in 1995.
The city council has had the option to have its own staff and made a couple of partisan appointments prior to my hire in early 2006. They began tackling issues that were somewhat of a reach, including the budget. McGladery and Pullen was contracted in 2008 to assist with budget oversight. For $6,300 they provided a three-page overview concluding the process was okay.
Now, over the next two months, an organization D&B lists as a one-person LLC will “identify and evaluate key issues in the development of the budget.” What the heck has the city council been doing? That is, besides conducting nine-minute council meetings, gathering for celebrity photo-ops with the mayor, attending taxpayer-funded junkets, etc.
Lennie, it would be great if you could post a copy of this contract with Mr. Cain. I would be curious to see if Mr. Cain is expected to assess the ability of 20 people appointed by the Democratic Town Committee to be responsible for oversight of the city budget.
What about rightsizing the workforce and spending cuts? It’s time to get serious.
Dave, what would you cut? Would it be across the board including public safety?
Lennie,
I would do a workforce study to determine what we need and a skills and knowledge analysis of the existing workforce. I would supplement that with a payroll audit and a performance analysis. The result would be fewer people overall, a dramatic reduction of political appointees, an upgrade in professionalism, an adequate number of public safety personnel and aggressive management of overtime. Overtime should also be eliminated from pension calculations on in prospective basis. You would be shocked to see how much overtime is just to pad pension payments. I would also eliminate double dipping. You can’t draw a pension from the City and a City paycheck at the same time. This is just a start and none of it has been done yet!
Lennie,
I would also eliminate a vast majority of “Deputy” positions in the City. Bridgeport is a very small city and has way too much overhead-related personnel. I ran a federal agency that was larger than Bridgeport in both personnel and budget and I did not have a single Deputy!
Lennie,
Bridgeport has an outrageous, unaffordable and unsustainable retiree health care plan that has over $1,000,000,000 in unfunded obligations. It is the highest unfunded obligations per taxpayer of any city or state in the country and Bridgeport has American household income that is far below the state and national averages. It is a not a matter if these will be dramatically reformed, it is only a matter of how and when. Chicago reformed their plan to make it reasonable, affordable and sustainable and cut City costs by 80%. Chicago retirees still have a better retiree health care plan than a vast majority of Fortune 500 companies. It’s called prudence and leadership!
If a Mayor posts a Police Department budget indicating that nine of ten department divisions are FILLED including:
FILLED VACANT
Patrol 291 7
Detective 51 0
Traffic 13 0
Narcotics and Vice 15 2
Training 1 0
Records 12 1
Communications 8 0
Auxiliary Services 42 7
Police Unassigned 45 1
TOTAL Officers 478 17
Is this an honest, fair and representative report to provide to the City Council, Mayor G? Time will tell.
*** Step in the right direction maybe, let’s wait and see what the end results will be and its difference to the Mayor’s overall city budget. If it works out better for the city taxpayers and Bpt, the money from the city legislation line item will be worth it, no? *** CROSS YOUR FINGERS IF YOU CAN! ***