Thank You
We had a very successful turn out last evening and even won over the people turned out by the Mayor. Lets keep up the pressure to have the Board of Aldermen send the budget back to the Mayor.
Archive for the ‘Budget’ Category
Thank You
Thursday, April 29th, 2010WQUN Interview, this coming Saturday 7:00 am
Thursday, April 22nd, 2010A radio interview on The New Haven Citizen’s Action 2010 Tax Relief Rescue Mission, with Susan Campion, volunteer, will be aired:
Saturday, 4/24 at 7:07 am (Early Bird Special)
John Deandre’s Newsmakers program
Tune in on 1220 am on your radio or click here for live streaming.
Learn more about Performance Based Budgeting from Susan Campion.
Final Public Hearing, Wednesday, April 28 @ 6:30 pm
Thursday, April 22nd, 2010We need your support by coming to the final public hearing on the budget. Your presence will make a big difference and we need you to come even if you can only stay a short while. The meeting is at City Hall, on the second floor, 165 Church Street.
We are asking everyone to do these three things:
#1 —- Sign the Petition to Cut the Budget by 10%
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The Mayor is proposing a 2% cut through Innovation Based Budgeting (IBB), we are asking that number to be 10% to be no new (net) taxes. Please call Jeffrey at 203-676-0880 or email jeffrey.kerekes@gmail.com if you have petitions ready to be picked up. While our Citywide Brainstorm has generated over 315 revenue/expense ideas, we believe city managers are best poised to implement cost savings measures to achieve a 10% reduction in the budget.
http://www.petitiononline.com/NewHaven/petition.html
#2 —- Come to the Final Public Hearing On The Budget —- **** PLEASE COME TO THIS EVENT!!!!! **** —-
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Final public hearing on the budget. We need people to turn out on this night. Bring your neighbors!!!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010 @ 6:30 pm
Board of Alders Chambers, City Hall, 165 Church Street, New Haven, CT 06511
#3 —- Contact these Board of Alders, Finance Committee Members —- They will be making a recommendation to the Full BOA on the Budget —-
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Ward#
4 Andrea Jackson-Brooks Ward4@newhavenct.net 102 DeWitt Street New Haven, CT 06519-2131 203-776-0502
5 Jorge Perez Ward5@newhavenct.net 24 Cassius Street New Haven, CT 06519-2313 203-562-4373
7 Bitsy Clark clarkfrances@sbcglobal.net 320 Audobon Court New Haven, CT 06511-1203 203-772-4455
9 Roland Lemar Ward9@newhavenct.net 549 Orange Street New Haven, CT 06511- 203-240-6135
10 Justin Elicker Ward10@newhavenct.net 192 Willow Street New Haven, CT 06511-2501 203-500-2969
11 Maureen O’Sullivan-Best Ward11@newhavenct.net 54 Foxon Street New Haven, CT 06513-3404 203-467-9783
14 Stephanie Bauer Ward14@newhavenct.net 55 East Pearl Street New Haven, CT 06513-3206 203-785-0065
16 Migdalia Castro Ward16@newhavenct.net 139 Lloyd Street,Unit 3, New Haven, CT 06513-3811 777-6835
22 Greg Morehead Ward22@newhavenct.net 13 Frances Hunter Drive, New Haven, CT 06511-3533 203-507-7766
23 Yusuf I. Shah Ward23@newhavenct.net 730 George Street #309, New Haven, CT 06511-5217 843-4450
29 Carl Goldfield Ward29@newhavenct.net 25 Roydon Road New Haven, CT 06511-2806 782-2064 w:787-9222
An Inconvenient Budget
Sunday, April 11th, 2010Mill Rates
Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010UPDATE: Here is a link to the municipal mill rates from the State of Connecticut. They offer it in excel and PDF versions.
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Online Petition – Cut The Budget By 10%
Friday, March 19th, 2010A Petition to the Members of the Board of Alders Finance Committee
The undersigned residents and taxpayers of New Haven wish to register our opposition to Mayor DeStefano’s proposed 2010-2011 budget. The $670,448,590 proposal is a large one and calls for a city-wide 9–11% tax increase, regardless of taxpayers’ ability to carry this burden. This is unacceptable.
We agree with the Mayor that these times are not normal. We disagree emphatically, however, with the Mayor’s proposed responses to these events. The Mayor’s proposal does little to attack the real problem, which is rapidly escalating costs, well beyond the rate of inflation. We refuse to be deflected from this focus.
In normal times, those who want work can generally find it. In normal times, wages and salaries increase, real estate values rise, the stock market expands – and we can support tax increases. But these are not normal times. In households throughout New Haven, families are re-learning how to “do without”. In New Haven’s businesses, and in our churches, colleges, and universities, responsible officials are finding ways to cut costs – not to control their growth, but to cut them. We affirm that, in these decidedly not normal times, New Haven’s city government must do the same. As City Alders, you have the authority to demand changes in the proposed budget and not simply accept it with minor changes As those who voted you into office, we deserve your protection and support.
We urge you to request that every department head identify ways to cut their actual expenses– not their proposals, but their current budgets – by 10% and to submit such reductions in a revised budget proposal. These are competent professionals who know how best to do this. They alone know how the dollar is spent and which activities provide the least value.
As an outside group we cannot presume to dictate where those cuts must be. We are confident, however, that competent professionals in every department know best how to cut 10% from their expenses with the least pain to New Haven’s quality of life and critical City services. Let them use furloughs, freeze hiring, wages and salaries, health care benefits, or simply turn the lights off earlier. Let them identify the ways to achieve the 10% reduction. We expect that some services will be sacrificed, and we are reluctantly ready to deal with that. We are not ready for yet another tax increase.
We know that what we propose is difficult. But these are not normal times. We urge you to send the Mayor’s proposal back and demand accountability from each and every department throughout this city. We love this city. We want this city to remain a great place to live for all.
To sign our petition to cut 10% of the budget: http://www.petitiononline.com/NewHaven/petition.html
Or if you want to print out the petition and help gather signatures. Return it to Jeffrey Kerekes, 43 Lyon Street, New Haven, CT 06511 203-676-0880
One More Answered, One More To Go
Friday, March 19th, 2010The City is answering your budget questions. I submitted mine. What are your questions?
Here is one of the remaining two unanswered questions. One more to go:
(3/19/2010) Q: Under current contracts, does the City have the power to unilaterally change the work requirements such that we move City Hall to a four day work week and cut all related expenses including a proportional amount of salaries and benefits? You might not be able to change the contract on the days they actually work, but can you indirectly deal with this by decreasing the number of days?
A: The current bargaining agreements between the City and our Unions all contain language that prevent us from unilaterally making any of the changes suggested.
Remaining Question:
Question #3 — Not Answered Yet
#3: Why are we giving Chris DePino $50,000 a year as a state lobbyist when we have 8 Representative (2 senators and 6 reps) at the capitol? What have been the total payments to him for lobbying over all the years and what was the first year he was paid? What has his total ROI been from his specific efforts? Same thing with the about $100,000 we spend with William & Jennings our “Washington Communicator”?
City Budget In 2 Pages
Tuesday, March 16th, 2010Here is the short budget (PDF).
Here is the updated citywide brainstorm (PDF)
Here is the short budget and brainstorm in excel format (Excel).
City Answers Many Of The Questions We Submitted
Thursday, March 11th, 2010Thanks again for the City offering to answer our questions and doing so in a timely manner. We certainly appreciate it. We would still love the documentation on Tweed monies and answers to Questions #3 and #4. Thanks.
GATEWAY TERMINAL — Question #1
(3/11/2010) Q: I am interested to know why the Gateway Terminal only pays a few hundred dollars a year on taxes instead of $235,000? If we plan on raising taxes, shouldn’t we be collecting it from all entities? Are there other similar/related instances in the city?
A: The City of New Haven has been actively and effectively seeking tax payments from Waterfront Enterprises regarding its property at Gateway Terminal. In fact, in 2009, the City recovered nearly half a million dollars in back taxes owed by Waterfront Enterprises.
PENSIONS, HEALTHCARE & WORKER’S COMPENSATION — Question #2
(3/11/2010) Q: What is the city’s plan to deal with the dramatically increasing costs associated with pensions, healthcare, retiree healthcare, and workers compensation? They are rising much faster then we can keep up particularly given the deficits with the State Budget?
A: If you review the City’s Legislative agenda the City is currently seeking State Legislation to change the Rules of Binding Arbitration where the majority of our contractual obligations as they relate to pensions and healthcare are ultimately determined. The City is also taking aggressive stances in our negotiation of contracts to reduce future burdens. In addition, the City has an active RFP process for the administration of all these funds. In the past five years the City has competitively bid Pensions, Health Care, Workers’ Compensation, Short Term Disability and Life Insurance Coverage. By bidding the administration of each service on a rotating basis the City can attract competitive bids for a reasonable period (average 3-4 years before re-bid) and give each RFP process the attention it deserves to guarantee the most competitive prices and service.
Question #3 — Not Answered Yet
#3: Why are we giving Chris DePino $50,000 a year as a state lobbyist when we have 8 Representative (2 senators and 6 reps) at the capitol? What have been the total payments to him for lobbying over all the years and what was the first year he was paid? What has his total ROI been from his specific efforts? Same thing with the about $100,000 we spend with William & Jennings our “Washington Communicator”?
Question #4 — Not Answered Yet
#4 Under current contracts, does the City have the power to unilaterally change the work requirements such that we move City Hall to a four day work week and cut all related expenses including a proportional amount of salaries and benefits? You might not be able to change the contract on the days they actually work, but can you indirectly deal with this by decreasing the number of days?
TRAVEL — Question #5
(3/11/2010) Q: Why not freeze all travel expenses? The Mayor’s budget proposes $724,333 to spend on travel expenses.
A:The City is not budgeting $724,272 for travel. The 5300s “Allowance & Travel” that totals $724,333 includes the Federally Required Mileage Reimbursement, Attendance to Professional Meetings and what could be termed “Travel” and can be used for both transportation, lodging and conference fees.
$649,858 of the $724,333 is attributable to the Board of Education of which the Mayor’s Budget and Board of Aldermen’s Budget do not have line item control. That said, the majority of this is for Athletic Transportation, Security, Field Trips and Professional Meetings, only $52,858 is for “Travel” an average of only $1,000 per school.
The General Government travel and allowance budget is $74,475. This includes $12,500 for the Board of Aldermen for Travel to the National League of Cities Conferences and $18,000 for the Mayor’s Office which includes the cost of conferences and delegation visits to D.C. The remainder of these funds cover Mileage ($25,492) and the registration for professional meetings ($18,483) which include Assessor, Tax Collector, Finance, Registrar of Voters, Health, Police, Fire, Building and other related required professional conferences where current regulations are discussed, the majority of which are in state.
ELM CITY RESIDENT CARD — Question #6
(3/11/2010) Q: The citizens of New Haven were promised by many Alders and the Mayor that the Municipal ID program would only be paid for by grant funding yet we see $53,833 for a staff member (does not include pension and benefits, or unassigned managers who oversee this project) and $190,372 (in the general fund Form 106 for the CSA) in operating expenses totaling about $1/4 Million dollars. I have no philosophical problems with this program. I did state before it was approved that I didn’t think we could afford to add a new program into the budget. I still feel that way. Why is this in the general fund budget?
A:The $190K in the General Fund CSA was a request that was not accepted by the Mayor. The budget recognizes that the ID card has become a standard City Document and as such transfers the responsibility to the Office of Vital Statistics. The Office, which has been understaffed, will see the addition of one new staff position $35,351 (the second position was previously funded with special funds).
TWEED LANDING FEES — Question #7
(3/11/2010) Q: Why haven’t we raised the landing fees at Tweed to be at minimum close to what Waterbury charges? Why not a small increase in the fuel flowage fee?
A: Landing fees are set by a complicated formula, based on the Authority’s costs. They must be approved by FAA and cannot be arbitrary. Unlike Oxford’s rate structure (which the higher charges exceed), Tweed uses a sliding scale of landing fees so single-engine planes pay $2.50 and heavier aircraft pay more.
The scale is as follows: 0-5,000 lb. $2.50
5,001 – 7,500 lb. $6.75
7,501 – 10,000 lb. $9.00
10,001 – 12,500 lb. $11.50
Raising the fuel flowage fee would be counter-productive and would cost the airport revenue. The fuel flow fee is already not competitive with State-owned airports and White Plains. The Airport have solid recent knowledge from Net Jets that they are happy to land here to drop off or pick up passengers, but they arrange things so they do not have to gas up here because it is too expensive.
CITY CLERK — Question #8
(3/11/2010) Q: Why do we pay the City Clerk $46,597 a year, when we only pay aldermen/women $2000 a year and they clearly work harder and vastly more hours? They are both elected positions. Can we cut City Clerk to $2000?
A: This City Clerk’s duties are detailed in Article VIII Sec. 36 of the City Charter. As per Article XXXVI Sec. 208 of the City Charter, any salary increase or decrease be for the full term of office of said elected officer and shall become effective only on the first day of January next succeeding the date of the election of said elected officers, Therefore, as set by ordinance, to change the City Clerk’s salary, this would need to be done on the 1st day of January after the next election– January 1, 2012.
TWEED — Question #9
(3/11/2010) Q: Do you have an official legal opinion from our Corporation Counsel and from the FAA that specifically and unequivocally states we are responsible to pay them back if we close Tweed? If so, can you please send a copy? How much would we exactly owe them? How long must we keep the airport open until that debt is forgiven(if it is forgiven), and under what terms is that debt forgiven? If we closed the airport, on what schedule of repayments would we have to pay the FAA back? What happens if we don’t pay it back (refuse to pay it back)? Why does this liability not show up in any Budget or related documents such as the bond offering statement? If we owe something, even a huge number, we should have it spelled out in detail so as to make informed decisions and if we owe them something, this is a liability that must be reported, no?
A: The approximately $29M in FAA Grants are not liabilities of the City. These grants were made for the development of the Airport to the Airport Authority. If the Airport does not continue to operate as per the Grant Agreement the Grants would need to be repaid just like any other Grant that the City defaulted upon.
The requirement to keep the airport open appears in the Grant Assurances attached to every grant issued by FAA to the Authority. Grant Assurances are taken very seriously. Grant Assurances have been provided to the Board of Aldermen many times.
Closing an airport listed on the national system requires direct personal approval from the Secretary of Transportation, on advice of the FAA Administrator in Washington, D.C. To the best of our knowledge, voluntary closing of an airport with scheduled commercial service has never occurred. As a result, there are no precedents for questions about timing and forgiveness of debt.
If the FAA did approve a request to close the Airport, the Airport must pay the FAA the value of the remaining life of FAA funded improvements or reinvest the amount into another airport in the local system. The Airport would be required to reimburse the FAA or reinvest tin another airport an amount equal to the pro-rata share of the current fair market value of the land.
