Mayor’s Budget To City Council

News release from Mayor Finch regarding city budget:

Mayor Finch Sends Budget Proposal to City Council; $468 million budget reduces spending by $1.3 million

 Mayor Bill Finch delivered his 2011-12 budget to City Council on Monday night, and the $468,078,112 proposal shows a third straight year of reduced spending totaling $1.3 million with no expected tax increase.

“We have cut government spending by reducing department budgets, reining in police overtime, and by working collaboratively with nearly every labor union in the City to gain concessions, we will save the City millions of dollars this year and in the years to come,” said Mayor Finch.

The Mayor’s proposed budget reflects, in large part, the budget proposals sent to the Connecticut General Assembly by Governor Dannel Malloy. Under the Governor’s proposed budget, the City of Bridgeport suffers only a small cut in State of Connecticut funding levels.

“As Mayor, I am supportive of the Governor’s proposed budget and hope it receives legislative approval. I further stand by Governor Malloy in his efforts to achieve concessions from the men and women who make up the State of Connecticut’s various unions. He is attempting, as we have in Bridgeport for the past three years, to work hand-in-hand with unions to gain concessions.”

In recent years, the City’s healthcare costs have risen annually by about $4 million. For fiscal year 2011-2012, the City anticipates the increase will dramatically shrink to $375,000. The Mayor has successfully negotiated cost-saving healthcare concessions with eight of the City’s 11 unions.

“Working together with our unions, we have been able to double the amount union members contribute towards their individual healthcare premiums – increasing the amount from 12 percent to 25 percent in just two years,” said Mayor Finch. “This is a recurring savings which will help the City of Bridgeport save money for many years to come.”

Increased federal or state funding in the short-term to assist the City in providing excellent municipal service levels while keeping a check on taxes, a cornerstone of the Mayor’s administration, remains bleak.

“We are struggling to keep present funding levels coming to Bridgeport from both Washington and Hartford. For that reason, my administration has re-doubled its efforts to provide the core services our citizens have every right to expect while remaining mindful of the increasing difficulty many are facing to pay their taxes,” said Mayor Finch.”

“Our challenges are many, but we are moving forward on many fronts despite having to do more with less,” he added.

Highlights of the proposed 2011 – 2012 budget include:

· A balanced budget. This achievement comes as a result of our never-ending efforts to cut government spending which has resulted in recurring savings.

· Overtime reductions. The proposed reduction of police and firefighter overtime is $2 million dollars. This is made possible, in part, because a new class of police officers who will be coming online this year thanks to the federal COPS Program provided by President Obama. Additionally, the City is tasking both the Police and Fire Chiefs to more intensely monitor absenteeism and work more closely with supervisors within the department.

· No one-time revenues. The budget contains no one-time revenues.

· Lowered health care costs through collaborative union negotiations. In recent years, the City’s healthcare costs have risen annually by about $4 million. For fiscal year 2011-2012, it is anticipated that increase will shrink to $375,000. The Finch administration has successfully negotiated cost-saving healthcare concessions with eight of the City’s 11 unions. Working together with the unions, we have been able to double the amount union members contribute toward their individual healthcare premiums – increasing the amount from 12 percent to 25 percent in just two years. This is a recurring savings which will help the City of Bridgeport save money for many years to come.

· Sustainable projects move forward. The city’s BGreen 2020 plan is moving forward on many fronts: municipal consolidation efforts continue – Probate Court, and Vital Statistics and Registrars of Voters office construction in City Hall Annex continues, and those offices may move by late summer; Environmental Health and Building Code have moved into their new offices in first floor of City Hall Annex; solar leasing program will move forward; the City is expanding its Energy Improvement district; building out Library energy improvements continues; plans are being developed for a green energy park at Seaside landfill; and the City will be selecting a developer for City Hall/Annex sale/leaseback proposal.

In addition, the city will expand its recycling efforts by adopting single stream recycling by Fall 2011, which will represent a significant cost savings once the entire city is online.

• Comprehensive capital improvement program. Last year, Mayor Finch presented a comprehensive capital improvement plan aimed at neighborhood revitalization projects expected to have a substantial impact throughout the City. The following projects will begin in the spring/summer of 2011. Some of the highlights of the plan include:

o Creating more access to the waterfront throughout the City including, the reopening of Pleasure Beach, and a new riverfront park on Knowlton Street

o Improving Parks and Green spaces

o Creating a more Sustainable and walkable City (Bike Paths connecting downtown to the South End and Black Rock including Seaside Park and St. Mary’s by the Sea; Streetscape improvements in the Hollow, South End)

o Citywide Paving Program (Comprehensive paving program throughout all city neighborhoods from the North End to Downtown)

o Anti Blight (Demolition of an additional 25 condemned properties, as well as the continued aggressive targeting of blighted properties throughout the City)

o Downtown Improvements (Beautification and infrastructure improvements throughout downtown including paving, planting, signage and sidewalks)

o Citywide Beautification and Quality of Life Improvements (renovation of public pavilions and fountains, a new soccer field, new multipurpose field at Longfellow School, Citywide streetlight improvements, additional street sweeping and distribution of trash receptacles)

o Conduct new Parks Master Plan

· Fund balance increase. The City of Bridgeport’s fund balance also continues to increase. The City has adopted a new fund balance policy to help re-build the fund balance by mandating all future one-time revenues be deposited into the fund.

· Safe Asleep Program nears 30,000 installations. The Fire Department, together with RYASAP and AmeriCorps continues to lead the nation in smoke detector installations through the City’s Safe Asleep Program. Funding is secure through Sept. 2011; grants are being pursued to continue this extremely public safety initiative.

· Public Safety Initiatives and Anti-Crime Efforts. A nationwide search culminated in the appointment of Joseph L. Gaudett Jr. as permanent Chief of Police. During his tenure as Acting Chief, Gaudett significantly reduced the police overtime budget. Chief Gaudett also has formulated a number of initiatives to increase public safety including, a new manpower allocation plan which will put police officers and command staff where they are most needed; expansion of the “Take Back Our Neighborhood” program, including increasing the number of Neighborhood Watch groups in the city and, finding sponsors for a second round of a gun buyback program.

The budget is available online at: www.bridgeportct.gov/OfficeofPolicyMgmt/Pages/20112012ProposedBudget.aspx