2008-9 Forms 106 — “Detailed” Line Item Explanations
March 27th, 2008The detailed line item forms are now available for download (6.1 MB). These detail what each department is spending money on.
Correction
March 19th, 2008Our latest doc on questions mentioned the Fire Department and it was regarding the Police department.
It should read:
2. Police Services. Contract reserve of $900,000 (p64). This is in addition to the existing contractual payments and signals to all that the City is prepared to increase wages by 5.3% in the next round of contract negotiations (Personnel costs in Police Services are $33.767 million so $900K over the new contract months in 2009 represents 5.3%. In the interest of transparency this item should be included in Dept 201 (Police Services)
2008-9 Budget Questions & Concerns
March 19th, 2008Looking through the 2008-9 City of New Haven budget document, we found a number of questions and concerns as well as things that we didn’t understand. We forwarded this list to all 30 Alders today for their review. Please let us know if you find discrepancies, questions or concerns in the budget and we will forward them along with ours.
See our list of Questions & Concerns.
Update Recommendations
March 11th, 2008We have updated the budget recommendations document we released previously. We tried to simplify the process by listing the changes on pages 23 & 24 of the new document. We hope to save you some time in finding the updates in this manner. We continue to welcome the outpouring of recommendations and comments from readers.
See the new version here.
New Budget Expected Today
February 29th, 2008The new budget document is expected out today. You can read coverage about the Mayor’s presentation last night at the NHI and NHR. Here are stories worth reading.
NPR: What Happens When City Hall Goes Bankrupt?
NHI: Mayor Proposes $466M Budget
NHR: Mayor proposes 4.6% boost in spending
NHI: Mayor’s Office Upgrades
NHI: Budget Watchdogs Release Plan
NHI: Stetson Library (Funding Restored, but interesting debate)
NHI: Tweed Peace Plan
Time to Unload Subsidies
February 24th, 2008We have a $17 Million shortfall this current fiscal year alone.
The below subsidies are rather small and dropping them should have minimal impact as the table clearly illustrates. Why do we need to subsidize the airport for $12.58 per flight? We can keep the airport, end the controversy among residents for $12.58 per flight. Compare $12.58 per flight with $6.03/rider of the trolley. From a subsidy standpoint, we would be better off flying people around then sending them by trolley. More seriously, the trolley is “free” to riders and only 9 people per hour? It looks like even when you give this service away, people are not interested. If it provides a service for those who are unable to walk, we could give them cab vouchers at a considerable cost savings.
| Subsidy | Amount | Tickets/Passengers/Flights | Cost Per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tweed New Haven | $800,000 | 176 Flights/day | $12.58/flight |
| Shubert Theater | $410,000 | 93,000 Patrons | $4.10/person |
| Pilot Pen | $135,000 | 94,639 in 2007 | $1.43/Person |
| Downtown Trolley | $350,000 | 58,000 (9 People per hour) | $6.03/person |
Young People… Come Back!
February 24th, 2008
Aired: 02/22/2008 - 9:00am Listen
Demographic trends in Connecticut are pointing to a looming crisis. The state has lost more young workers than any other since 1990. Read more…
See how this ties into an article about people moving to places with low property taxes. We need to keep property taxes under control to continue to keep New Haven a viable Connecticut City.
2008-9 Budget Recommendations
February 20th, 2008(NHCAN) is pleased to announce the budget recommendations for the 2008-2009 Fiscal Year. We have prepared a list of recommendations including the ending of unsustainable subsidies, to the reorganization of departments, to the transformation of the budget document itself. Below you will find the link to the full document (2.3 MB), as well as, shorter versions of the document. We recognize that some of these recommendations may be impractical or even naïve. We invite you to consider these in the spirit in which it is offered and to offer superior alternatives for the general good. We look forward to continuing this discussion.
2008-2009 Budget Public Comments(2.3 MB)
Executive Summary Only (414 KB)
Full Document Without the Appendices (1.4 MB)
Appendices Only (2.0 MB)
Did Your Alderperson Show Up At Meetings?
February 17th, 2008Being an alderperson is a tough job and requires a lot of time, not just for full BOA meetings, but for committee meetings, events, and responding to people in their wards. Some of them got 100% attendance at full BOA meetings in 2007. That is quite an accomplishment - thanks and congrats. Below is a table of the final attendance. Click here for the full spread sheet. How did your alderperson do? Happy, not happy? Contact them and let them know.
2007 Attendance (Listed by Ward)
- 82% Shalek (No Longer In Office)
- 73% Chen (No Longer In Office)
- 91% James
- 95% Jackson-Brooks
- 100% Perez
- 100% Colon
- 86% Clark
- 91% Smart
- 100% Lemar
- 77% Mattison (No Longer In Office)
- 100% Lee
- 95% Antunes
- 95% Rhodeen
- 100% Pascale
- 32% Reyes-Rivera (No Longer In Office)
- 100% Castro
- 100% Paolillo
- 95% DePino
- 77% Edwards
- 95% Blango
- 91% Jones
- 93% Morehead (replaced Drew King - 25% - in March 2007)
- 95% Shah
- 95% McCormack
- 86% Silverman
- 91% Rodriguez
- 95% Lehtonen
- 95% Sandman
- 100% Goldfield
- 91% Edmonds-Sepulveda
Finance Committee 2008 Schedule
February 17th, 2008February 25, Monday @ 5:30 PM Joint Finance/CSEP
March 5, Wednesday Joint Finance/PS
March 12, Monday @ 5:30 PM Public Hearing on the Budget
March 25, Tuesday Budget Workshop (Overview)
Monthly Meeting
March 31, Monday Budget Workshop
April 2, Wednesday Budget Workshop
April 8, Tuesday Budget Workshop
April 9, Wednesday Budget Workshop Monthly Meeting
April 15, Tuesday @7:00 PM Deliberations on the Budget
April 29, Tuesday @7:00 PM Public Hearing on the Budget
May 7, Wednesday Deliberations on the Budget (If needed)
May 14, Wednesday Monthly Meeting
May 27, Tuesday Board of Aldermen Special Budget meeting
June 11, Wednesday Monthly Meeting
July 9, Wednesday Monthly Meeting
August 13, Wednesday Monthly Meeting
September 10, Wednesday Monthly Meeting
October 7, Tuesday @7:00 PM Monthly Meeting
November 12, Wednesday Monthly Meeting
December 10, Wednesday Monthly Meeting (If Needed)
All meetings will begin at 6:00 PM in the Aldermanic Chamber, City Hall, 165 Church Street New Haven, unless otherwise noted.
