The City Council took two steps in approving a budget ordinance, last week, that might prove controversial when it is reviewed by the Municipal Accountability Review Board (MARB), which has final say.
The council reduced Mayor Nancy N. Rossi’s $173.4 million plan down to $172.6 million, reducing the mill rate from .97 to .81; and then hiked the salary for the next mayor a $109.61 salary, nearly $22,000 more than currently.
The 10-2 passage of the ordinance means, pending MARB approval, city taxpayers will see the current 34 mill tax rate tick upwards to 34.81. In the case of the mayor’s salary, members thought the raise would attract more candidates in the future, putt ing the pay on par with other local communities.
While passing the budget, the council approved requests to fund open positions in City Hall departments, many of which are currently understaff ed. The body did not approve funding any new positions until Jan. 1, 2024, helping reduce the budget’s overall bottom line.
“The Council also provided additional funding to accounts that have been under-funded for decades including additional contributions to fund balance, OPEB (Other post-employment benefits) for City and Allingtown Fire, and internal service funds such as liability, medical insurance, and worker’s compensation
beginning to address long-standing audit findings,” said Democratic Councilman-at-Large Ronald Quagliani.
Quagliani, who was the only of six council members sent questions by the Voice to answer our request for comment, said these benefits and insurance line-items were concerns of MARB, and had to be addressed.
“The Council put a great deal of time and eff ort to ensure that necessary services were funded while being very mindful of our residents tax burden. The Council also took the MARB’s guidance very seriously and funded items that have been short-funded for decades,” he said.
The mayoral salary hike, always a hot button issue when attempted, was addressed by the former council chairman.
“The mayor’s salary was adjusted effective Dec. 3, 2023 (the date the new term is inaugurated) to address the disparity between the West Haven mayor’s salary and our peer communities,” he said.
So far, several candidates have filed papers to run for mayor in November from both parties.
On the Democratic side, former Mayor Edward M. O’Brien and Eighth District Councilman Victor M. Borras have announced. Mayor Rossi has not yet announced her plans for the fall election.
On the Republican side, Paige Weinstein, a newcomer to the city politics, and longtime city official and Republican Town Committee member Stephen R. Mullins announced early. Barry Cohen, last election’s candidate, announced last week that he will seek his party’s nod.
If given the go-ahead by MARB, city taxpayers will see their taxes go from $34 per $1,000 of assessed value, to $34.81 per $1,000. The hike is estimated to add $6-$19 per month to the average household.
Quagliani said the council would have liked to do more in cuts, but the real numbers hampered the effort.
“Since one mill equals $3.1 million, it is extremely difficult to make substantive reductions without impacting services, but the end result was a lower mill rate (34.81) from the Mayor’s Recommended Budget (34.97),” he said finally.
MARB is expected to take up the city budget ordinance at its next meeting.
An ostensible budget should have had the MAYOR demanding every Department reduce its BUDGET by 10 % the compensated for the corrupt dealings of money that has not been accounted for.
To watch this completely incompetent City Council , Mayor, Department Managers, Corp. Counsel, Finance Department be in chaotic flux this past year, this CUT TO THE BUDGET should have been mandated by all Departments.