NHCAN Resident’s 2010-11 Budget Work Group
To Everyone:
On behalf of the New Haven Residents’ 2010-11 Budget Work Group, I respectfully request that you circulate this message to your neighbors, neighborhood groups, New Haven business associates, landlord, tenants, and others. The Residents’ Work Group presents an update and the last Call to Action on the city budget. The Board of Aldermen will cast its final vote on Thursday, May 27th, 7 pm in the Aldermanic Chambers at City Hall, 165 Church Street. For your use, an attachment of the Board of Aldermen’s Contact information.
Current Status of the 2010-11 Budget and the Residents Coalition’s Response
In an extraordinary demonstration of unity and support, city union members, small business members, PTO members, and other municipal workers have joined with over 1100 residents to present an array of reasonable and effective budget mitigation options for the administration and the Board of Aldermen’s consideration for the 2010-11 budget cycle.
On May 17th, the Finance Committee regrettably failed to respond to the will of the city’s citizens. It made minimal reductions, which were directed and advocated by the Mayor, and passed a budget recommendation to the full Board. This budget contained a 4% tax increase at minimum (condo owners’ tax increase is undecided), and included a huge 6 million black hole, as a placeholder (maybe to be filled by the ill-conceived parking monetization scheme) and their planning to raise the mill rate to 45.15. If the Board of Aldermen pass this budget with financially flawed amendments for 2010-11, the result will assuredly devastate the financial resources of NH homeowners, apartment dwellers, condo owners, and small businesses.
The Mayor on Channel 8 News, May 21st referred to the citizens’ appeals for fair and needed reductions in his budget proposal as- “Noise”. This is an egregious and audacious comment for the Chief Elected Official to make concerning the grave fiscal crisis that the city and those most impacted, its residents face.
Residents are justifiably questioning why the city’s government can not respond to the needs of its citizens in a fair and collaborative effort like Hartford’s City Council and many other legislative bodies across the state. In passing the city’s 2010-11 budget, Hartford’s Council rejected the Mayor’s budget proposal with a 13% tax increase and passed a budget with tough reductions and a zero tax increase to support its residents during these challenging economic times.
Throughout this year’s budget process, we are sure that you observed the city administration employ its tired, old tactics of fear mongering with threatened cuts to education, public safety, etc. The Mayor and his supporters’ most destructive ploy has attempted to pit one neighborhood, city service or agency against each other in the “We win- You loose” strategy. In 2010, city residents refuse to be intimidated by these old school, political tactics and continue to push for a budget that is by and for the people.
Call to Action
The Citizen’s Action Network requests that everyone contact ALL ALDERS and let them know you want a ZERO increase in taxes. The choice facing each Alder is – Will I support the Mayor’s budget proposal, OR Will I stand with my New Haven residents and vote against unjust, unnecessary, and destructive taxation. Afterward, the Alders who support the Mayor’s proposal may try to wiggle, spin and twist to explain why it was better to vote for the Mayor’s plan. Be sure to tell them that we don’t need excuses, we need action. The 2010-11 budget, coming before the Board of Aldermen, does little to stop the perilous financial course on which the city is headed. This course of action will place the city at grave fiscal jeopardy in 2011. NHCAN believes that many Alders know that following the same budgeting policies will continue to undermine our economic viability as a city and will inescapably crush the public trust in the process. The best solution to the city’s current fiscal crisis is a WIN/WIN Community Solution. We are all in this Together!
We wish to congratulate the many citizens who have joined this awesome Citizen Action Initiative. Know that you have made a solid contribution to the city’s finest resource- its residents. Join friends and neighbors across the city and send a resounding message to the Board of Aldermen-No Tax Increase in 2010!
Great Thanks for your Valued Support,
Susan Campion
Volunteer Member of the New Haven Citizen’s Action Network Residents’ Budget Network