News
Council Approves Developer Tax Abatements With Small Change
The City Council approved two more tax real estate abatements, adding to a number of other abatements provided to developers in the city recently, but one of the tax reduction plans was slightly scaled-back after a brief delay in a Council committee. An abatement plan that was tabled in the Council’s Committee on Administration, Finance […]
Democrats Call for Transparency in City Budget After Audit Delay Disclosed
Ward 3 Ald. Aram Ayalon (D) and Democratic mayoral candidate Chis Anderson are calling for quick release of information on the city of New Britain’s finances after it has been disclosed that administration of Mayor Erin Stewart (R) is three-quarters of a year late in filing a required annual budget audit with the state. “Is […]
City Claims Late Audit Due to Staffing Shortage, “Projected” Completion on Halloween
The administration of Mayor Erin Stewart (R) claims that the city of New Britain failed to file a required audit more than a year after the close of its 2022 budget year because it was short-staffed in its finance office. Yesterday, the New Britain Progressive broke the news about a stern letter from the state […]
State Letter Says City Failed to Submit Required Financial Audit
A letter to Mayor Erin Stewart (R) from the state appears to say the city of New Britain has been in, “Noncompliance with the Municipal and State Single Auditing Act,” because of, “Outstanding and Late FY 2022 Audit Reports.” The letter to Stewart, from the state Office of Policy and Management, on September 12, 2023, […]
New Britain School Test Scores Remain Low and Behind State
At the October Board of Education meeting, the New Britain school district attempted to paint an upbeat picture of school test scores for New Britain in 2022-23 that appear to remain on a downward long-term trend and far below statewide averages. According to analysis of data from the State Department of Education, between the 2015-16 […]
Council Considering Two More Developer Tax Abatements
The City Council will hear public testimony and consider two more tax abatements, adding to a number of other abatements provided to real estate developers in the city. One proposal would provide a limit of taxes owed by the owner at 102 West Main Street, “which limits real estate property taxes to $700.00 per residential […]
Council Approves $4 Million for Upgrades to Stop Flooding, But City Says Project Not to Happen Until 2025
The City Council unanimously approved $4 million for improvements to address flooding experienced by residents of the Allen Street, Roxbury Road and CCSU area, but the city Public Works director says that the project likely will not happen until 2025. Ald. Luz Ortiz-Luna (R-AL) and Ald. Desiree Costa (R-AL) had introduced the proposal to provide […]
CCSU Investigating Potential Food Poisoning at Campus Café
Central Connecticut State University says that it is investigating potential food poisoning at its Hilltop Café. The University, in a statement, says that its, “university Environmental Health & Safety Department is working with the City of New Britain Department of Public Health and food service provider Sodexo,” in the health investigation. “Students can get services […]
Residents Advocate for Approval Tonight of $4 Million Upgrades to Stop Flooding
Residents of the Allen Street, Roxbury Road and CCSU area say they are pressing for Council members to approve $4 million in sewer and drainage improvements proposed by two Council members to address flooding they have experienced at the Council meeting tonight. Ald. Luz Ortiz-Luna (R-AL) and Ald. Desiree Costa (R-AL) introduced the proposal to provide […]
CCSU Professor Appointed to State Freedom of Information Commission
Central Connecticut State University journalism professor Kate Farrish has been appointed to the state Freedom of Information Commission by Gov. Ned Lamont (D), the University has announced. “In June,” CCSU notes, “Farrish also became president of the Connecticut Foundation for Open Government, a non-profit group that educates the public on the importance of government transparency […]