$475M Budget Passed

With a handful of dissents, the Board of Aldermen voted Monday night to approve a $475 million budget for the coming fiscal year.

Unlike last year’s, this year’s proposed budget does not include a property tax increase during an election season.

Monday evening’s vote was the culmination of over two months of review, starting when the mayor proposed the budget at the beginning of March. For weeks, the Board of Aldermen’s Finance Committee heard testimony from city departments and the general public.

Only two amendments were put forward on the floor of the aldmermanic chamber Monday evening at the Board of Aldermen’s special budget meeting. Both went down due to a lack of support. 

Several aldermen complained about a widespread unofficial aldermanic agreement prior to the meeting: a majority agreed not to vote for, or even discuss, any amendments that came up. They said it led to a lack of transparency and a stifling of debate.

Board President Carl Goldfield acknowledged the agreement. He said it streamlined the process and avoided getting sidetracked.

A week and a half ago, an aldermanic committee approved the budget with one amendment. The adjustment includes a projected $4.3 million in savings that the city hopes to win in negotiations with unions, in the form of concessions on benefits.

The amendment also put to rest a controversial plan to create a municipal stormwater authority — and unveiled another controversial proposal: to start charging until midnight for metered downtown parking. That plan drew the ire of downtown restaurant owners last week, sparking a spirited online debate.

Two other amendments were proposed Monday during floor debate. Neither found support.

West Rock Alderman Darnell Goldson proposed $3.6 million in cuts from a variety of city departments, including the chief administrative and corporation counsel offices.

“I have no expectation that it’s going to get anywhere near passing,” Goldson said before the meeting. He last year led an 11th-hour insurgency that nearly succeeded in cutting that budget. This year he didn’t come close.

East Rock Alderman Justin Elicker also proposed an amendment that would have created a funded line item for independent legal counsel to the Board of Aldermen. That measure failed as well.

Alderman Elicker had the opportunity to offer the ​“Divine Guidance” that begins aldermanic meetings. He took the chance to offer a political, rather than a theological, message. 

“Many of us have been told not to vote on any amendments before us, to pass the budget as is,” he said. ​“The reasoning for such a request: chaos. That chaos would ensue if the board started voting for amendments put on the floor. That a majority of us would support wild ideas that would lead to the downfall of this city.”

“I think we’re better than that,” Elicker said. ​“If you’ve promised not to vote for any amendments, I urge you to reconsider. … Relinquishing our right and more importantly our duty to vote on things we believe in, does a disservice to our constituents and I think is simply wrong. It also underscores a lack of confidence in this institution and a lack of confidence in ourselves, which is unfortunate.”

Later, when Elicker’s amendment came up for discussion, only Aldermen Goldson rose to speak on it. He later said he had not been part of the agreement not to discuss amendments. Aldermen Al Paolillo rose only to suggest that Elicker ask to send the matter to committee, which he did, and aldermen approved.

Goldson’s own amendment, however, was greeted by silence. It died a quick and quiet death.

After the meeting Alderman Goldfield said the aldermen’s anti-amendment agreement was nothing extraordinary or nefarious. He compared it to the way ​“President Obama pulls his ​‘troops’ together” to pass legislation. Similarly, aldermanic leadership tried to get people to agree to not entertain floor amendments.

Last-minute amendments have gotten legislative bodies into trouble in the past, he said. When multimillion-dollar amendments come up at the 11th hour, there’s no time to vet them, he said.

Goldfield said the agreement was work of several aldermanic leaders and the Finance Committee.

The feeling was that, after four public budget hearings and four workshops, all amendments should have been made already, Goldfield said.

“Then we reached out to our colleagues and said, ​‘Would you please stick with us on this budget?’” he said. ​“It was a positive thing. … No one was being beaten into giving up their rights.”

“If we agree to not vote for any amendments proposed, we’re relinquishing all our authority,” Elicker said moments later.

He said he thinks his amendment would have passed if not for the agreement.

Elicker said he doesn’t think that allowing floor amendments would leave aldermen bogged down or distracted. ​“I have a bit more faith in the board.”

Alderman Mike Jones said he knew of the agreement but was not asked personally to abide by it. ​“I think it’s a bad idea,” he said. The leadership chooses who sits on the Finance Committee, and leaving the budget-shaping only to them restricts the process, Jones said.

Alderman Mike Smart and Alderman Goldson, two lawmakers often at odds with the administration, also said they weren’t asked to abide by the agreement.

Goldson said he plans to file a Freedom of Information Act request to learn who was present at a closed-door meeting in the mayor’s office and what was said during aldermanic meetings with the mayor in the lead-up to the budget vote. Much of the budget-shaping went on behind those closed doors, he said.

“It’s that whole transparency thing that the city likes,” Goldson said ironically, mentioning recent ​“triumphs” of transparency.

Contacted later, city spokesman Adam Joseph said he doesn’t know if the mayor personally asked any aldermen not to indulge floor amendments. But lobbying for a budget he created would not be out of the ordinary, Joseph said.

“I think it would be unsurprising for any elected official to advocate on behalf of a budget they proposed,” he said. ​“I think lobbying support is the prerogative of the person who introduces the legislation.”

A budget is a complicated document that needs to be balanced on both the spending and revenue sides, Joseph said. It’s difficult to make changes on the fly on the floor of the Board of Aldermen without ​“unintended consequences,” he said. ​“That’s why we have a long process.”

Live Blog

6:38 p.m.: East Rock Aldermen Justin Elicker just said he’s planning to re-submit the amendment he put forward at the last Finance Committee meeting, which would create a new line item with money to pay for legal counsel for the Board of Aldermen. That proposal failed to win support. Elicker said it may not win here tonight, but might get sent to committee for further shaping.

6:44: Aldermen and members of the public are milling about in the chamber. There’s a contingent of green-shirted AFSCME members in the back of the room. Several have signs decrying the proposed privatization of school custodial services.

6:53: Matthew Brokman, an AFSCME representative, said just now that the union hopes ​“we get a budget that shares the values of the residents of the city.” That means standing up for good jobs and opportunities for youth, he said. It also means not privatizing custodians, or as Brokman put it, ​“pushing working families into poverty.” Brokman acknowledged that privatization is written into the budget as it stands and that no amendments have been proposed to the contrary. Tom DeLucia (center in photo above), treasurer for the custodians union, said he’s hoping for a miracle. He has a sign around his neck that says ​“Privatize DeStefano.”

7:00: The chamber is filling up. A couple dozen people are in the gallery. Aldermen continue to mill about. Board President Carl Goldfield looks ready to call the meeting to order.

7:03: Goldfield pounds his gavel, quiets the chamber, and opens the meeting. Alderman Charles Blango, filling in for the city clerk, calls the roll. Alderman Alex Rhodeen is absent, as are Alderwoman Migdalia Castro, and Alderman Marcus Paca, and Alderman Greg Morehead, and Alderman Gerald Antunes.

7:07: Alderman Elicker offers divine guidance. He says he wants to highlight some proud moments from the past year and a half: budget conversations last year, red light cameras debate, parking meter monetization debate.

Elicker: And the other night, voting on the peace commission, a new alignment of opposition and support emerged. People are following their hearts. … Tonight we vote on the budget. Many of us have been told not to vote on any amendments. The reason: Fear of chaos, and people following ​“wild ideas.” Many of you have promised not to vote on amendments tonight. That underscores a lack of confidence in us and this institution. I urge you to follow your heart. [Remember, Elicker is putting up an amendment tonight.]

7:10: Alderwoman Katrina Jones, the majority leader, takes over the agenda. She moves the plan to allow the parking authority to bond for $6.1 million in improvements.

Shah, chair of the Finance Committee, stands to present the item. It passes unanimously.

7:13: Jones begins moving the budget items, starting with the spending side.

Shah: A word about the process. The Finance Committee has held meetings, budgets, and hearings on this budget since it was presented in the beginning of March. I’d like to thank my colleagues on the committee. [He goes through committee members one by one and recognizes their efforts with individualized words of praise.]

7:18: Shah: These individuals put in countless, countless hours. [He now starts calling out other aldermen who have worked on the budget.]

7:20: Shah: This work could not go forward without help of city departments, particularly the budget director, Larry Rusconi, and the fiscal analyst of the Board of Aldermen, Donald Hayden. … Lastly, I want to acknowledge the members of the public. … We hold a responsibility to our taxpayers, who provide the city with nearly half of its revenue. … There’s a delicate balance between not overburdening the taxpayers and meeting the city’s fiscal needs. Tonight we’ve maintained city services while ensuring police and schools have resources needed, while making adjustments in their operations that yield more responsible budgeting.

7:24: Shah’s done after 10 minutes of thanks.

Golfield lays out the rules for voting and what majorities are needed for different types of proposals.

Alderwoman Claudette Robinson-Thorpe rises to read a statement. She says: I’m going to read this statement with Alderwoman Colon on behalf of several aldermen. [She names about 10 of them.] … People are concerned about crime and youth. … Although there is no tax increase, the budget has several proposed ​“fees that felt like taxes.” … We’ve restored funding to libraries and the New Haven Land Trust. We have stood against privatization of custodians. And we reached a balanced budget. We need to pursue increased savings and revenues.

Colon stands to read the second half of the statement. She says: We need to get debt service under control. Future capital projects must meet demonstrated needs. … We need to cut health insurance costs by getting a better deal not by cutting coverage. … We need to approach non-profit employers about assistance. … We should hold banks accountable for foreclosures, to bring in revenue and protect property owners. … We should increase recovery more federal funds…. The board should help set the city’s legislative priorities at the Capitol.

Robinson-Thorpe closes by saying that the statement will be introduced as a resolution ​“so that the discussion can continue.” Applause erupts, with some whooping.

7:34: Elicker: I’d like to move the Elicker policy amendment creating a line item for legal services for the Board of Aldermen. …

Motion seconded.

Elicker: This issue initially came to me when I was trying to get the Board of Ed to stop using bottled water. I ran into trouble getting some of the language right and needed legal assistance. This proposal would put a lawyer for the board on retainer. The lawyer would be accessibly by request approved by the president or if 16 aldermen sign on to a request. … This does not effect the bottom budget line at all. It affects only the Board of Aldermen.

7:38: Goldson: I’m afraid to speak positively on this item, as it will probably be the kiss of death. … Six months ago the tax abatement committee was investigating the board of tax appeals and our chair tried to subpoena the member. He was stymied at every step by this corporation counsel’s office. He had to go to outside counsel. … I fully support this.

Alderman Al Paolillo: I also rise in support of this item. … I would suggest this be heard by the Aldermanic Affairs committee. I would ask the maker if he’d be willing to do that.

Elicker: Obviously I feel strongly about this. I’m amenable to sending it back to committee. … I will move to refer this item to Aldermanic Affairs Committee.

Seconded.

Passes unanimously.

7:42: Goldson stands to put up his amendment.

Seconded.

Goldson: Let me commend the committee on coming out with a budget that eliminated stormwater authority and parking meter deal. But let’s be honest. It still has a hole as big as the Grand Canyon in it.

[Castro arrives.]

Goldson: My bill reduces spending by $3.6 million. … It includes 26 layoffs with an average salary of $68,000. ​“We’re staring to hit the top here.”

No discussion of the amendment. The amendment fails.

7:45: Goldson: I just have one more statement. It’s a statement about two New Havens. Tomorrow, the Tax Abatement Committee meets. An 86-year-old disable tax payer who has paid off his mortgage will be there. He represents the first New Haven. He’s paid his dues for more than 30 years. His annual income is $12,888. He pays the city over $5,000 in property taxes. That’s 40 percent of his income. … A lot of people say we work to pay the state. This person is basically living to pay the state. … Some people would say he should just sell his house. Can you imagine you work hard all your life and someone tells you you should just move when can’t pay bills? … This budget does not provide any assitance to this person. Then there’s a second New Haven, the well-represented. Yale University. Public employees who do not reside in this town. Yale does not pay it’s share of taxes. We don’t even know how much they would pay if taxed. … We do know Yale is the largest property owner in the city but number five in the taxpayer list. It pays $113 million, less than 1 percent of its endowment. Meanwhile the man is paying 40 percent of his income. Two New Havens. … I can’t vote for this budget. I want to vote for it. … Give me a reason to vote for it.

No further discussion.

7:52: The town clerk begins a roll call vote. Voting no: Calder, Smart, and Goldson. Absent: Antunes, Rhodeen, Paca, and Morehead.

The matter passes.

7:55: On to the next item: the tax levy and revenue ordinance. No discussion. Roll call vote. Everyone votes yes. The matter carries unanimously.

7:57: Next, appropriating ordinance number three: issuance of general obligation bonds. No discussion. Roll call vote. Everyone votes yes. Goldson registers his vote as ​“yes, for the last time.” The matter carries unanimously.

7:57: Next, appropriating ordinance number four: the new school construction budget.

Goldson: Does this include the proposed West Haven school?

Shah says he doesn’t recall for sure.

Dildine: It does appear of page 4 – 21 of the budget. It does appear to be part of the package.

Goldson: I will respectfully have to oppose this item I think it’s ludicrous that we’re building schools in West Haven when we can’t manage the schools we have.

Roll call vote. Everyone but Smart and Goldson votes yes. The matter carries.

8:09: [Had to step out to cover some breaking news. More about that later.]Aldermen are on item J: Licenses and user fees. No discussion. Everyone votes yes, except Goldson. The matter carries.

8:12: The rest of the agenda passes en masse with a voice vote.

The Stormwater Enterprise Fund is given leave to withdraw. Goldson reminds his colleagues that the matter is still before the committee of the whole and says it should be killed there a.s.a.p.

Parking meter monetization is also given leave to withdraw. Elicker says good riddance.

8:15: With the meeting drawing to a close, alderman can now take ​“points of personal privilege.” Blango rises to congratulate Alderman Mike Jones, who graduated from Yale yesterday with a degree in political science. He gives him a big hug.

8:17: Meeting adjourned.