Mayor Bobby Sanchez and the new city administration have made long overdue stormwater and sewage upgrades a priority for the Department of Public Works.
The project plan and new financing initiatives were shared at a January 21 City Hall meeting.
City Audit for FY 2025 Finalized on Time
The completion of the 2025 municipal audit on time is welcome news before the Mayor and Common Council begin preparing a budget for the year that begins on July 1st. — John McNamara
Independent auditors delivered New Britain’s financial statements for the year ending June 30, 2025 to city officials and the state Office of Policy and Management ahead of a December 31st deadline after several years of the reports being filed late.
Material weaknesses and noncompliance found in prior years have been corrected, according to the CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA), the city’s auditing firm. Auditors found one remaining deficiency in “internal control over financial reporting” that was attributed to “a shortage in staffing.” Recommended in CLA’s Single Audit Report is a formal financial close process “to ensure each fund’s year-end balances are analyzed timely and corrected appropriately.”
Municipalities are expected to complete annual audits by December 31, six months after the close of the fiscal year. Last year’s audit came on March 31.
The audit examined the municipal budget of $269.5 million that set a property tax rate of 39.59 mills for the July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025 year. The tax collection rate “remained steady” at 96.33%.
The Financial Statements for Fiscal Year 2025 show general fund revenue increases of $11.1 million from a 1.31 mill rate increase adding $2.8 million, $4 million in additional earnings from interest income, $2.9 million in reimbursements for completed state-funded projects and a $1.4 million increase in police special duty funds from delinquent payments that were received in 2025.
Overall revenues for 2025 totaled $455.8 million including property taxes accounting for 34%, 51% from state and federal grants and external contributions and the balance from other sources.
The audit reported $295.7 million of long-term debt in bonds and outstanding notes, a decrease from $307.6 million in the previous year. The city’s long-term indebtedness for all government activities based on the city’s net position totals $626.374 million. As of last June 30th, fund balances increased to $40.56 million with $14 million in assigned and $26.5 million in unassigned balances.
In their management discussion, auditors discussed the current municipal budget set at $273,493,952, $3.8 million more than 2025. The mill rate dropped this year to 39.18 that was attributed to “a slight increase in property values and the use of $6.7 million in tax stabilization funding.”
The budget process for the 2027 fiscal year begins this month when the Board of Finance and Taxation receives estimates from the Board of Education and city departments.
This post originally published at http://nbpoliticus.com
Rep. DeFronzo Hosts Community Meeting in Ward 4 , Saturday January 17th
A community meeting hosted by State Rep. David DeFronzo (D-25) will be held Saturday, January 17, from 10 a.m. to noon at Spottswood AME Church, 25 Crestwood Lane.
The constituent meeting is an opportunity to ask questions and discuss state and municipal issues ahead of the 2026 legislative session and before the municipal budget process begins.
State Rep. DeFronzo will be joined by State Senator Rick Lopes (D-6), Board of Education President Diana Reyes and Ward 4 Alderpersons Luz Ortiz Luna and John McNamara.
“Learning thoughts and ideas of constituents is important to being a good advocate for New Britain and our community,” said DeFronzo. “I am looking forward to hosting events throughout the district to encourage meaningful conversations and community participation in our democratic process,” said DeFronzo.
“Meeting regularly in the ward is a good way for citizens to weigh in on issues the city and state government can address,” said McNamara, who said other neighborhood meetings will be held during the year. Citizens are also encouraged to participate at regular Common Council meetings. The Council meets on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at New Britain City Hall, 27 West Main Street. Public participation begins at 7 p.m.
The January 17 meeting is open to all city residents. For further information contact McNamara at mcnamara4council@gmail.com, 860 416-0665.
Task Force Hearing On Traffic Cameras Scheduled for Thursday, January 15th
by John McNamara
The City of New Britain will take the next step in selecting locations for speed enforcement traffic cameras at a January 15th public hearing of the Vision Zero Task Force.
A Vision Zero public hearing is set for Thursday, Jan. 15th, at 6:30 p.m. at the New Britain Police Department Community Room, 10 Chestnut Street.
In 2025 the task force, comprised of elected and appointed city officials, developed the Traffic Safety Action Plan working with consultants from Cambridge Systematics. Federal grant funds from the Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG) have supported Vision Zero initiatives in central Connecticut towns over the last year.
The Common Council adopted a resolution that established the task force “to develop a comprehensive Safety Action Plan to identify projects and strategies that will reduce fatalities and serious injuries at high crash locations in New Britain.”
The 57-page report provides a range of “countermeasures” to “reduce fatal and serious injury crashes by 50% by 2035 and to reach Vision Zero by 2045.” One of the “key findings” is to “leverage technology to mitigate safety challenges….by employing ATESD location designation, street lighting and signal turning changes.”
Last June the Common Council adopted a new ordinance to allow the use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices (ATESD) under a state law (Public Act 23-116) enabling communities to use the video technology as part of safety action plans.
ATESDs in New Britain will be used to automatically detect and record traffic violations, such as running a red light, speeding, or other infractions. State law allows municipalities to establish a fine to be imposed against the owner of a motor vehicle committing a violation of not more than $50 for a first violation and not more than $75 for a second or subsequent violation. Local officials have stated that initial violations will result in a warning and not a fine with a purpose of changing behaviors more than collecting revenue. “Any funds received by a municipality from fines imposed shall be used for the purposes of improving transportation mobility, investing in transportation infrastructure improvements or paying the costs associated with the use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices in the municipality.”
Altumint, Inc., a Maryland-based company that manufactures and supports ATESD systems, was selected as the vendor for license plate recognition devices. Altumint, a CRCOG approved vendor, has been selected by several CT communities for implementation.
Any contract with Altumint is expected to be “cost neutral” according to the company. In responding to the city’s request for proposals Altumint stated “tax dollars will never be used to pay for this technology. Our invoicing over the life of the contract for your ATESD program will never exceed the Town’s fine revenue collected.”
Concerns have been raised over rights and personal privacy in regard the use of “flock” surveillance cameras that collect more data than specialized license plate readers that are proposed for New Britain. In December the American Civil Liberties Union called for a moratorium on “flock” surveillance in the state, according to a CT News Junkie story.
The ATESDs are limited to a maximum of two in a census tract to avoid targeting. For privacy concerns information collected cannot be used for other purposes, the driver and passengers are not identifiable and all personal information must be deleted in 30 days, according to the state enabling legislation that says “no personally identifiable information shall be disclosed by the municipality or a vendor to any person or entity, including any law enforcement unit, except where the disclosure is made in connection with the charging, collection and enforcement of the fines imposed.” Violations will be under local control with alleged violations reported electronically to the New Britain Police Department.
The starting point for camera implementation will involve 17 “school zones” especially for children walking within a half mile of school. The plan, however, includes lists of priority intersections and high crash locations throughout the city with possible countermeasures. More than 20 locations, for example, are identified in extended downtown area with “the most pedestrian/cycle crashes” call for stepped up enforcement.
Data from the University of Connecticut’s Crash Data Repository has been used to identify trouble spots. The UCONN data shows there were 17 fatalities involving 127 vehicles in New Britain over three years (October 2021-September 2024) and 90 persons with suspected serious injuries involving 141 vehicles in the city over the same period. For all crashes and collisions 5,230 were reported involving 9,607 vehicles between 2021 and 2024.
New Britain’s implementation and enforcement is expected to be similar to Middletown where the the city approved AETSDs in late 2024.
Following public hearings and Common Council approval the city will submit a plan to the CT Department of Transportation (CT-DOT) that will identify the locations of the cameras.
Vision Zero as a public policy originated in Sweden in 1997. Its “core principle” is that “it can never be ethically acceptable that people are killed or seriously injured when moving within the road transport system.” It has spread to other countries including cities and towns in the United States. The federal Safe Streets grants program, part of the Infrastructure and Jobs Act adopted in 2021, is accelerating Vision Zero initiatives in the U.S.
John McNamara is an alderman from Ward 4 and the Common Council Majority Leader.
Related post from December 2024 https://nbpoliticus.com/2024/12/12/vision-zero-task-force-sets-goals-to-reduce-traffic-fatalities/
Thank You from Ward 4 in New Britain
“We all see the uncertainty in Washington. We feel the economic pressures that families and cities across this country are facing. In moments like these, New Britain needs steady leadership, fiscal responsibility, and absolute transparency.” – Mayor Bobby Sanchez, November 12, 2025
The Common Council begins its 2025-2027 term on Wednesday, November 19 with the strongest possible Democratic majority and Mayor Bobby Sanchez at his first meeting as the presiding officer.
As we put a wrap on the 2025 municipal election I want to thank you for your support and contributions to the McNamara 4 Council Committee and the Democratic slate.
Your help was instrumental in reaching voters with a message of positive change and it fueled a needed local response to the lawlessness, division and corruption of the GOP in Washington — actions that are now hurting the vulnerable and communities like ours.
Voter turnout, helped by early voting, reached its highest level for a municipal election in eight years, making 2025 a building block for higher voter participation and citizen involvement in local government in the years to come.
In Ward 4, Alderwoman Luz Ortiz-Luna and I look forward to representing the residents of Ward 4 in the new term and supporting the Sanchez Administration in making progress for the city, governing with Democratic values of fairness and responsiveness to neighborhood needs.
Thank you,
John McNamara – Alderman Ward 4 – Common Council Majority Leader
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Support – New Britain Democratic Town Committee
Support McNamara 4 Council Committee
paid for by McNamara 4 Council Committee, Michael McNamara, Treasurer. New Britain Democratic Town Committee, John Tully, Treasurer. Approved by candidates
Countdown to November 4th
Four ways to help in Ward 4…….
Dear Friends and Neighbors:
Your continuing support in the final days of the municipal campaign can be the margin of difference in a win for Row A Democrats in Ward 4 and throughout the city. Bringing a Democratic Administration and Common Council majority to City Hall depends on:
- Contacting voters by canvassing or by phone
- Making a list & reach out to your family, friends and neighbors to vote
- Doing visibility & poll standing on Election Day
- Making a donation for the final push in Ward 4 to get out the vote.
Donations to the McNamara 4 Council Committee May Be Made Here
To volunteer or for more information contact Alderman John McNamara at 860-416-0665 or Email: mcnamara4council@gmail.com. Thank you.
A partial list of endorsements:
Labor donated. Paid for by McNamara 4 Council. Michael McNamara, Treasurer. Approved by John McNamara.
Countdown to Election: Early Voting October 20-November 2; Election Day Is November 4
Support Row A Democrats
The Municipal Election is November 4th when New Britain voters will go to the polls to elect the Mayor, City Treasurer, alderpersons for Common Council, Board of Education, Board of Assessment Appeal and Constable. Early voting begins October 20 and runs through November 2.
For more information contact Alderman McNamara at (860) 416-0665. Email: mcnamara4council@gmail.com
Unions Representing Teachers and Community College Faculty Back Alderman McNamara
NEW BRITAIN – Alderman John McNamara (D-4) has received the endorsement of unions representing teachers and professionals in public and higher education in his bid for a second term on the New Britain Common Council.
The Congress of Connecticut Community Colleges (4Cs) and the American Federation of Teachers Connecticut (AFT-CT) endorsed McNamara who worked for 22 years at Capital Community College as Director of Institutional Advancement.
The 4Cs (SEIU Local 1973) represents over 4,000 higher education employees in Connecticut at community colleges – now CT State – and the University of Hartford.
AFT Connecticut represents over 30,000 workers in the public and private sectors, including teachers and paraprofessionals, healthcare workers, and faculty and staff in higher education faculty and staff.
AFT Connecticut and the SEIU (Service Employees International Union) State Council have also endorsed State Rep. Robert “Bobby” Sanchez (D-25) for New Britain Mayor and members of the Democratic slate of which McNamara is a part.
In receiving the endorsement McNamara shared his priorities for New Britain including equity in school funding for the city and ensuring that economic development and affordable housing initiatives deliver benefits and opportunities for all residents. He favors stronger partnerships between community colleges and municipalities like New Britain for early college opportunities and workforce training.
“These endorsements are especially meaningful to me knowing that the faculty and staffs represented by AFT-CT and 4Cs deliver education and training for many first-generation college students and make sustainable jobs possible for working families,” said McNamara.
The Municipal Election is November 4th when New Britain voters will go to the polls to elect the Mayor, City Treasurer, alderpersons for Common Council, Board of Education, Board of Assessment Appeal and Constable. Early voting begins October 20 and runs through November 2.
For more information contact Alderman McNamara at (860) 416-0665. Email: mcnamara4council@gmail.com
Alderman McNamara Hosts Ward 4 Coffee Hour Saturday, 10/18
NEW BRITAIN – Alderman John McNamara (D-4) will host a Ward 4 Coffee Hour from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 18th, at the The Garage Dance Studio & Coffee Lounge, 1385 East Street.
“The coffee hour is an opportunity for residents to share concerns and hear updates on local and state issues before the November 4th election,” said McNamara who is seeking a second term representing District 12, 13 and 14 on the Common Council.
Alderman McNamara has previously held four constituent meetings in Ward 4 during the current term addressing flooding, traffic and public safety, education and city budget issues. The ward encompasses the Belvidere neighborhood near Central Connecticut State University, streets between Farmington Avenue and Stanley Street and the Brittany Farms neighborhood on the West Hartford border.
Participating in the coffee hour will be State Representative David DeFronzo (D-26) whose assembly district encompasses all of Ward 4.
The Municipal Election is November 4th when New Britain voters will go to the polls to elect the Mayor, City Treasurer, alderpersons for Common Council, Board of Education, Board of Assessment Appeal and Constable. Early voting begins October 20 and runs through November 2.
For more information contact Alderman McNamara at (860) 416-0665. Email: mcnamara4council@gmail.com
Alderman McNamara Endorsed by SEIU Council, District 1199 Health Care Union
The Connecticut SEIU State Council (Service Employees International Union) and District 1199 New England have endorsed New Britain Alderman John McNamara (D-4) for a second term on the New Britain Common Council in the November 4th municipal election.
The SEIU State Council includes five member unions whose members include workers in health care, public services, property services and community college faculty and staff. SEIU 1199 New England represents 26,000 nurses and health care personnel.
“I am honored to receive the endorsements from labor organizations whose members, including New Britain residents, deliver vital services and care that keep our communities healthy and safe,” said McNamara.
McNamara, the Common Council Majority Leader, received the endorsements after sharing his priorities for a second term including the development of affordable housing and equitable funding for public schools.
“The Common Council needs to address the housing crisis by encouraging and approving affordable housing, making the fair rent commission ordinance stronger and beefing up code enforcement,” McNamara stated. On public school funding, McNamara said “New Britain ranks 160th in Connecticut in local aid. Over 12 years local school aid has been flat funded. Education needs to be a greater priority in future budgets and in pushing for educational cost sharing and tax reform that will make funding for schools equitable regardless of zip code.”
McNamara worked as Institutional advancement director at Capital Community College (now known as CT State Capital) for 22 years before retiring in early 2022. At Capital, McNamara was elected to the Congress of CT Community Colleges (4Cs) SEIU Local 1973 Delegate Assembly representing faculty and staff on the campus. Previously, McNamara received endorsements of the CSEA Local 2001 union and Democratic Municipal Officials , a nationwide group of local and county elected officials.
New Britain’s Ward 4 is the area that includes the neighborhoods near Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) spreading north and west to Brittany Farms and Batterson Park.
McNamara 4 Council Donation Link
paid for by McNamara 4 Council. Michael McNamara, Treasurer.
Approved by John McNamara
Information: 860-416-0665
New Britain Alderman John McNamara 