Here is my take on the municipal budget that will take effect July 1.
The good news is that the Legislature appropriated $10 million more for tax relief or addressing unmet needs in the coming 2025 fiscal year. The bad news is a 1.31 mill rate increase and less local aid to education than 2024.
“The Mayor and Council will face more challenges next year at budget time and will not have the one-time funding provided by the Legislature’s stabilization plan for town aid and educational cost sharing funding. If past is prelude the city’s legislative delegation can be expected to push for and get increases for both education, PILOT and other forms of town aid when the General Assembly convenes next January to adopt a new biennial state budget. The situation points to the need for more fiscal discipline at City Hall than is the case now and making property tax relief a priority at the local and state level in 2025.”
NEW BRITAIN – Residents of Ward Four will have an opportunity to meet with their Democratic City Aldermen on Saturday, May 18th, at 10 a.m. at Central Connecticut State University to discuss municipal and neighborhood issues, Democratic Council Majority Leader John McNamara (D-4) announced.
The constituent meeting will be held at CCSU’s Marcus White Hall in the Marcus White Living Room, 2nd Floor on the CCSU campus. McNamara and Ward 4 Alderman Neil Connors (D-4) will answer questions and address resident concerns.
An update on 2024-2025 municipal budget now under consideration will be provided. Other topics will include the 2024 street paving program, stormwater infrastructure and the FLUSH program, Batterson Park and traffic calming measures to curb speeding.
“Meeting regularly in the ward is a good way to get feedback from citizens on issues that city government can address,” said McNamara, who held his first constituent meeting in February. The meeting is open to all city residents.
Stanley Quarter Park
Ward 4 encompasses the neighborhoods near Central Connecticut State University and Stanley Quarter Park, extending to Farmington Avenue and out to Brittany Farms and Batterson Park. The ward includes the Saint Francis (12), Holmes School (13) and Pulaski School (14) voting districts.
For more information: John McNamara, 860-416-0665; john.mcnamara@newbritainct.govn
This report is the second in a series to keep the community informed about Council business and to encourage public participation in city government from the perspective of the Council Democratic Majority Caucus.
The details of municipal purchasing, tax and and leasing agreements will be reported back to the Common Council in changes to city ordinances sought by Council Democrats.
New Britain Common Council Majority Caucus Update April 2024
At the April 10th Council meeting a resolution was approved requiring that signed lease agreements be reported back to the Common Council. Similarly, the Council’s Administration, Finance and Law subcommittee has advanced resolutions that will require the administration to provide contract details and the terms of tax agreements once they are signed. The Common Council approves winning bids for contracts, leases and tax abatements that are public information and authorizes the Mayor to negotiate and execute the terms. The intent of the transparency resolutions is to provide all members of the Council with the final details on major purchases, tax agreements and leases automatically.
Municipal Budget: Public Hearing Is April 23
Having received the Mayor’s proposed $269.5 million budget and 39.59 mill rate for the year that begins July 1st the Common Council begins its work to “adopt the capital and operating budgets of the City and the Board of Education” no later than June 5th. Between now and then Council Democrats’ priorities include an increased level of local support for education, building homeless prevention services’ capacity, addressing critical capital improvements and maintaining essential services within the limits of anticipated revenues.
The public will have the opportunity to weigh in on the new fiscal plan on April 23rd at 6 p.m. at a public hearing in Council Chambers. The budget proposal will then get a review with department heads at committee meetings on April 30th and May 1st to determine a final budget that will be sent to the Mayor.
Hearing from citizens on the 23rd and throughout the budget making process is essential to arriving at a budget that meets the community’s needs without a dollar wasted.
Addressing Reckless Driving, Speeding
Members of the Common Council have filed more than 20 petitions on speeding, pedestrian safety and traffic enforcement issues in residential neighborhoods since last November. The petitions prompt the Police Department to conduct traffic studies for possible remedies.
Assistant Majority Leader Iris Sanchez (D-3), for example, has filed recent petitions to address pedestrian safety issues on Brook Street near New Britain High School and on South Main Street where a resident of the School Apartments was seriously injured by an auto. It has been an ongoing issue for Alderwoman Sanchez who filed her first petition for a traffic light at the location back in 2018. In December, Alderwoman Wilma Barbosa (D-2) requested “speed humps or other speed reducing mechanisms” on the East Side over complaints that employees of a nearby company “drive aggressively in and out of the facility during the time school buses are picking up and dropping off children.”
At issue is the current policy that bars use of speed humps on all city streets. Last month Council President Francisco Santiago (D-5) petitioned to review the prohibition as reports of accidents, speeding and distracted driving increase in neighborhoods. The situation is putting new demands on the police for targeted enforcement on the city’s 170 miles of streets.
Council Democrats will work with the Administration and Republican alderpersons to consider a range of “traffic calming” strategies including speed humps, additional speed radar displays, raised crossroads or intersections, additional signage and neighborhood-based safety awareness campaigns.
Stormwater Trouble Spots
Engineering work is underway for two of the city’s trouble spots for stormwater and sewage system deterioration in the Overlook Avenue-McKinley Drive and Allen Street-Roxbury Road neighborhoods. Final design and project costs, according to the Department of Public Works (DPW), will be completed in the second half of 2024. Council Democrats continue to seek full funding from local, state and federal sources to expedite projects that have lingered on the city’s Capital Improvement list without action or funding for years.
Francisco Santiago (D-5) Council President Pro Tem
Residents of New Britain’s Ward 4 will have an opportunity to discuss municipal issues and neighborhood concerns on Saturday, February 10, from 10 a.m. to noon at Spottswood A.M.E. Zion Church, 35 Crestwood Lane.
Ward 4 Alderman John McNamara, the Common Council Majority Leader, will host his first neighborhood meeting of the term to hear from residents and to provide an update on the city budget process and efforts to improve stormwater and sewer mains.
“I encourage citizens to join me for coffee and conversation. Meeting in the ward is a good way to get their perspectives on issues that city government can address,” said McNamara, who was elected last November to the Common Council and plans to hold seasonal meetings to encourage citizen participation in Ward 4
Ward 4 encompasses the neighborhoods near Central Connecticut State University extending to Farmington Avenue and out to Brittany Farms and Batterson Park. The ward includes the Saint Francis (12), Holmes School (13) and Pulaski School (14) voting districts.
For more information: John McNamara, 860-416-0665; john.mcnamara@newbritainct.gov
Hearing From Citizens Is Essential During Budget Process in 2024
January 12, 2024
Two months into a new term the new Democratic majority on the Common Council is working on key issues raised in last year’s municipal election and in responding to public concerns on housing and shelter for the unhoused, stormwater infrastructure and the status of the city audit.
Council Democrats are committed to making city government responsive and accountable and restoring a bipartisan approach to moving the city forward. Our progress will be based on policies and actions that can improve the well-being of all residents.
New Britain Common Council Majority Caucus Update
This monthly majority caucus report is the first to keep the community informed about Council business and to encourage public participation in city government at the Council and boards and commissions.
Housing and Shelter For The Unhoused: Higher rents, evictions and a shortage of affordable housing are creating increasing demands on under-funded shelters and support services for the unhoused in New Britain and the region. Compelling testimony from unhoused New Britain persons and advocates dominated public participation at the last two Council meetings. Council members have been assessing current capacity and responding individually. The Council will hold a special meeting January 23rd on city efforts and actions, as well as to consider “sustainable solutions and collaborative endeavors to combat homelessness.” Members of the Community Services Division and Department of Planning and Development will be participating. In addition, a bipartisan resolution drafted by Ald. Neil Connors (4) to create a subcommittee on housing and homelessness was referred to the Planning, Zoning and Housing Committee (PZH) chaired by Ald. Nate Simpson (1) on January 10. Introducing the resolution Ald. Connors said PZH will determine if the subcommittee can be beneficial to “avoid duplication of efforts, and to bring together all the ideas that community members and stakeholders have to improve the situation facing our unhoused fellow residents.”
Stormwater Infrastructure: In response to a public outcry from two neighborhoods last fall repeatedly flooded from heavy rains, the prior Common Council committed $6 million in funds for the repair of undersized and deteriorated stormwater and sewer mains in the Allen Street-Hampton-Roxbury Road and Overlook and McKinley Avenue neighborhoods. Citizen action led by Frank and Sharon Chase and others prodded the city to authorize funds. Although identified for improvements over at least 10 years and problems that go back 30 years, start dates have been repeatedly delayed because of funding issues and use of available funds for other purposes. The delays have continued to take a financial and personal toll on residents experiencing basement flooding and property damages. In November and December the Common Council authorized $161,200 for Public Works’ on-call engineering work for final designs before the projects can begin. These are small but important steps toward the city — working with state and federal governments — to put storm water system upgrades at the top of the capital improvement list and to accelerate green infrastructure practices to sustain homes and neighborhoods.
City AuditStatus: A resolution to re-establish a Council audit subcommittee was favorably recommended by the Administration, Finance and Law Committee (AFL) on January 3rd for Council approval at the January 24th meeting. The audit sub-committee, adhering to state law that says the Council is the “appointing authority” for auditors, will review and approve “all items relating to the selection of an independent auditor for the City of New Britain.” The AFL Committee will also review the findings of the delayed 2022 audit that was not available until mid-December. Consequently, the 2023 audit, due on December 31st, will be delayed. Progress by the Finance Department will be monitored on correcting weaknesses that led to delay and non-compliance.
The City Budget For 2025: In June the Common Council will adopt a municipal budget for the year that begins July 1, 2024 that will maintain essential services and set new priorities. Last year’s record property tax increases were a reminder that the task of arriving at a fiscally responsible plan that addresses community needs will be as challenging as ever.
The budget process begins this month with city departments and the Board of Education proposing their expenditures. The Board of Finance and Taxation will hold hearings in February on the proposed budgets and will send recommendations for operating expenses, capital improvements and the tax rate to the Mayor. By April 10th the Mayor’s Proposed Budget will go to the Common Council. The Council will schedule a public hearing in April. After its review the Council will adopt the budget on June 5th and send it to the Mayor.
Through every step of the budget-making process hearing from citizens at public participation will be essential to arriving at a fair budget that meets the community’s needs without a dollar wasted in the new fiscal year.
Francisco Santiago, President Pro Tempore, John McNamara, Majority Leader and Iris Sanchez, Assistant Majority Leader
New Britain Alderman John McNamara 