Thanks to the NHI link to our posting, I believe, we got a quick response from Brison and Blango. Six more to go….
Ward 1 - Plattus
Ward 2 - Calder
Ward 12 - Antunes
Ward 18 - DePino
Ward 22 - Morehead
Ward 23 - Shah
A month ago, we asked where the disclosure forms are for our alders. Some new ones were finally turned in but several still have not done so which were due MARCH 2008
Here’s the list:
Turned them in. Thanks
Ward 3 - James
Ward 4 - Jackson Brooks
Ward 5 - Perez
Ward 6 - Colon
Ward 7 - Clark
Ward 8 - Smart
Ward 9 - Lemar
Ward 11 - Lee
Ward 13 - Rhodeen
Ward 14 - Sturgis-Pascale
Ward 15 - J. Rodriguez
Ward 16 - Castro
Ward 17 - Paolillo
Ward 19 - Edwards
Ward 21 - Jones
Ward 24 - McCormack
Ward 25 - Silverman
Ward 27 - Lehtonen
Ward 28 - Sandman
Ward 29 - Goldfield
Where’s your form???? 3 1/2 months overdue and counting
Ward 1 - Plattus
Ward 2 - Calder
Ward 10 - Brison
Ward 12 - Antunes
Ward 18 - DePino
Ward 20 - Blango
Ward 22 - Morehead
Ward 23 - Shah
See the disclosure forms turned in.
Taxes are due, even if you didn’t get the notice. And if you don’t take a minute to dig out your tax bill from last year, you might not realize the increase. The City of course doesn’t show you this automatically on your tax bill. Most bills show your last payment, but not the property tax bill. I guess they hope you don’t notice. I just calculated the increases since moving here in 2003.
2003 -> 2004 = 2.59571% Increase
2004 -> 2005 = 7.58882% Increase
2005 -> 2006 = 5.45478% Increase
2006 -> 2007 = 21.03510% Increase
2007 -> 2008 = 22.24233% Increase
That’s a 72.22474% Increase in 5 years. Guess where taxes are headed? See the spreadsheet or PDF version.
According to Andy Ross, the City of New Haven is insolvent (unable to pay its debts). We have resorted to “financial engineering” to make our budget work (like borrowing from one credit card to pay another one’s monthly minimum payment). Read his informative article from the Grand News.
Contact your alderperson
to ask them about this article. We sent them all a copy of the article.
Most of the BOA have yet to turn in there disclosure forms which are due back in March 2008. Here is the list of who did and didn’t turn them in yet 2 1/2 months later.
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
New York Times reports….
Thanks to Andy Bromage, Editor of the New Haven Advocate for selecting us for one of their “Best Of” Awards.
He writes:
Don’t you hate those people that complain about city government but offer nothing in terms of real solutions? New Haven Citizens’ Action Network (known by the uplifting acronym NHCAN) are not those people. The group’s a loose collection of self-appointed citizen watchdogs (including Jeffrey Kerekes and Mona Berman, pictured) that offers alternatives to the city’s budget, with line-item-specific recommendations for how New Haven can cut costs, while still keeping intact all the services we rely on city government for. See nhcan.org.
—Andy Bromage
The City released a new budget document with the announced cuts.
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.
See below for a NYTimes article and Harry David’s contextualization.
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.
The Mayor is proposing budget cuts to close the gap. See the coverage below as well as his letter to City Employees.
WTNH Coverage of Mayor’s Press Conference
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
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