Contact your alderperson
to ask them about this article. We sent them all a copy of the article.

Here are the 2008 BOA Ethics/Disclosure Forms that have been turned in.

Turned them in. Thanks
Ward 3 - James
Ward 4 - Jackson Brooks
Ward 5 - Perez
Ward 6 - Colon
Ward 8 - Smart
Ward 9 - Lemar
Ward 14 - Sturgis-Pascale
Ward 15 - J. Rodriguez
Ward 16 - Castro
Ward 24 - McCormack
Ward 25 - Silverman
Ward 27 - Lehtonen
Ward 28 - Sandman
Ward 29 - Goldfield

Where’s your form????
Ward 1 - Plattus
Ward 2 - Calder
Ward 7 - Clark
Ward 10 - Brison
Ward 11 - Lee
Ward 12 - Antunes
Ward 13 - Rhodeen
Ward 17 - Paolillo
Ward 18 - DePino
Ward 19 - Edwards
Ward 20 - Blango
Ward 21 - Jones
Ward 22 - Morehead
Ward 23 - Shah

Thanks to Andy Bromage, Editor of the New Haven Advocate for selecting us for one of their “Best Of” Awards.

He writes:

Best New Haven Watchdog Group

—Andy Bromage

No More Fair Rent Commission, Elimination of Small Business Initiative, $1M less in BOE, almost $6M in proposed layoffs and concessions while increasing employee benefits by a $1/4 Million, $679k from Community Services Administration, reduced soup kitchen aid, homeless funding, two people from the mayor’s office, $150k less to Shubert, $150k Less to Market New Haven and $250k less to Tweed. $144k from Executive Management Concessions (No Reduction for the Mayor who is still at $131,000. In fact no one in his office got a salary reduction although two positions were eliminated all together.). Elimination of some senior centers (there was low attendance at a few of these), closing some police substations, eliminated 3 Librarians, and more.

They estimate $1M in new money from an unannounced source (sale of parking lots?), increased money from parking meters, vital stats, and $150 per bulk pick-up.

Note the size of Vallejo — 115,000 compared to New Haven/s 120,000. Vallejo’s payroll costs were 80% of the General Fund compared to New Haven’s 65%. New Haven’s Mayor will be proposing some modest payroll trimming that may not be sufficient. We have the experience of Waterbury to look to and to try to avoid going down the path of profligate spending in a constrained tax climate. Harry

US | May 8, 2008
City Council in Bay Area Declares Bankruptcy
By JESSE McKINLEY
The unanimous vote was cast after efforts to squeeze concessions out of Vallejo City employees failed and with the city facing a $16 million shortfall for the fiscal year.

NHI

WTNH Coverage of Mayor’s Press Conference

Governor Rell Fires Back

Here is the letter:

Dear Colleagues:

As you may know, the State Legislature closed session for the year last
night without passing a new Fiscal Year 2009 budget. Therefore, the
State will operate under the tax and spending plans in the biennial
budget approved last year. The budget the State is working with results
in a difference for New Haven of $14.7 million between what we require
in aid and what they will in fact provide. With this challenge in mind,
in order to achieve a balanced budget by July 1, we are going to need to
make some sacrifices. These are sacrifices we don’t want to have to
make. However, we will do what we must and we will do this together as
one united team.

Our goal is to make the changes we need to make to meet the budget with
as minimal an impact on our delivery of services to residents as
possible. Throughout this process it’s important to keep the best
interest of our residents as a top priority. We will not raise the mill
rate. But, because of the revaluation phase-in, homeowners will see an
increase in their property taxes. This requires us to make budget
adjustments internally. It would be irresponsible to unfairly increase
property taxes beyond what taxpayers will see from the second year of
phase-in.

At 3:30 p.m. today at City Hall, I will lead a press conference to talk
about where we plan to save money and where we hope to make some money
back. The changes we discuss today are part of a proposed framework that
we will further develop to submit to the Board of Aldermen next week. By
not honoring its self-imposed obligation to reimburse us for tax-exempt
property in the City and by eliminating funding for important
programming, the State has left us with no choice but to make
concessions in our budget to avoid a deficit.

Over the course of the next several days and weeks, you will hear about
potential changes in programming, staffing and services. I will continue
to make it a point to keep you informed about how these changes may
affect all of us. Please know that we are working to achieve the most
minimal impact on day-to-day operations within the City as possible, but
some areas will undoubtedly experience a more visible impact than
others.

Each and every one of you works hard everyday for the people of New
Haven. Your work is valued and appreciated. Please relay any questions
or concerns to your department head who will also work to make sure you
are informed about this process.

Very truly yours,

John DeStefano, Jr.
Mayor

Here is the press coverage:

New Haven Independent

New Haven Register

Thank you to all of you who came. Please come to the rescheduled meeting and bring some friends and neighbors.

Taxes are on course to rise with a mil rate of 73.24 in 2014 (six years from now). This translates into over $14,000 in taxes on a home worth $300,000 or around $400 per month for a renter of one floor in a 3-family in taxes to their landlord in a home worth $300,000.

Come to the final public hearing on the budget Tuesday, 4/29/08 at 7:00pm at City Hall.