The New Britain City Council is set to vote on Wednesday on a city budget for the upcoming year, in a special meeting, “dedicated to deliberating and voting on various budgetary proposals vital for the city’s operations and development,” a statement from the Council said.
The Council’s Democratic majority said that, “This special meeting underscores the Council’s commitment to transparency and public engagement which is crucial to the city’s fiscal health and development.”
“A notable topic for discussion during the meeting,” the Council Democrats said, “will be the Mayor’s proposal for a tax increase affecting all New Britain property owners.”
Mayor Erin Stewart (R) has proposed a city budget for the upcoming year that would increase property taxes and would mean less funding, in the operating budget allocation for the city’s schools, after inflation. Stewart also decreased a vaguely-defined “non-operating” school grant line item from $2.7 million to $1.5 million, but has sought to portray the remaining $1.5 million as a budget increase for schools.
New Britain’s Democratic state legislators recently announced a substantial increase in state aid for the city, including an additional one-time allocation in the amount of $4 million to, “help cover a shortfall in the city’s budget.”
The special Council meeting is planned for Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at 6:30pm. It is to be held in the Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall at 27 West Main Street.
The Council’s office said that, “All members of the public are encouraged to attend, and public participation will be welcomed at the outset of the meeting. Those interested in contributing can do so either in person at the Council Chambers or by calling in to participate remotely at 1-339-209-6176.”
Topics included in the agenda for the meeting include the Mayor’s proposed General Fund and Special Revenue Funds and Enterprise Funds Budgets, as well as for the city’s Capital Improvement Program.
There are 8 Democrats and 7 Republicans on the Council. While Democrats are in the majority, they lack the 10 votes needed to override a veto by Stewart. If Stewart refuses to compromise with Council Democrats on the budget, the City Charter provides that her proposed budget becomes the city budget without Council approval.
The budget under consideration is for the fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2024 and goes until June 30, 2025. It affects property taxes due on July 1st of this year and January 1, 2025.
A budget meeting that had been called by Mayor Stewart for June 5th has been cancelled.
