Mayor Nancy N. Rossi’s just-released $173.4 million budget package for Fiscal Year 2024 will come under public scrutiny April 3 ( see FY-2024 budget online). That is the night the City Council has set the annual public hearing on the budget. The meeting was set last week, following the unveiling of the budget plan by the mayor in a special session of the council last Thursday.
The meeting is planned for Monday, April 3, in the Harriet North Meeting Room, second floor of City Hall, 355 Main St., at 6 p.m. This is the one and only time the taxpayers get to make public comment on the plan.
This session might be different than other over the past several years, as this plan will increase the city’s mill rate by .97, putting the city-side rate at 34.97. That does not include fire taxes for the three taxation districts. That increase may increase the number of residents attending.
The budget is a $5.1 million increase over last year’s $168.3 million plan and puts the Board of Education portion of spending at $89.9 million, with the rest divvied out in city services and debt service.
In her address before the council, Mrs. Rossi touted the accomplishments of her administration, taking care of things that had been left unattended.
“The (city) continues to make good progress in improving its overall financial condition by delivering balanced budgets and maintaining operating surpluses. The city is reducing long-term debt and making important investments to address long overdue and deferred maintenance and infrastructure issues across the city,” she said. “The fiscal year 2024 recommended budget is balanced, makes critical investments in our community and educational system, and is fiscally responsible.”
The increase in taxes, always a hot-button item with some taxpayers was defended by the mayor as part of the long-range fiscal map to put our financial house in order.
“The recommended budget does increase the city’s tax mill rate by .97, consistent with the City’s Five- Year Plan. I am proud to report the City of West Haven has managed five consecutive balanced budgets. FY 18, FY 19, FY 20, FY 21 have been audited,” she said. “When the FY 22 and FY 23 audits are completed, we expect a fifth and sixth operating surplus for fiscal years 2022 and 2023. Our fund balance or “rainy-day fund” continues to grow, giving the city financial flexibility and stability as we continue to recover from years of fiscal challenges.”
Turning to Quality of Life issues, Mrs. Rossi noted the city has had success in utilizing American Rescue Plan Act funds to make improvements in the city’s parks and athletic facilities, altering a pattern that saw benign neglect at many sites.
“The city has completed or is in the process of renovating 27 parks, athletic facilities and recreational areas across the city. New playground equipment and energy-efficient lighting has been installed and trees surrounding these areas pruned for safety. Much of the cost of this initiative was paid for by federal ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds,” she said. “Our public recreational spaces have been neglected for decades. A new indoor field house is being designed for Painter Park. West Haven High School will get a new turf football, soccer and lacrosse field and new artificial turf softball field. The shorefront and boardwalk will continue to be improved with new security cameras. West Haven has tremendous natural resources and public spaces, but we must maintain them moving forward to be enjoyed by future generations. The new Washington Elementary School is state approved, and design will begin soon.”
Economic development, a long-term Achilles Heal for many administrations is seeing improvement according to the mayor. She listed a number projects completed in the current fiscal year, and reported on future plans.
“We are supporting many economic development and community projects, which will increase the commercial grand list further stabilizing our tax mill rate,” she said. “The raising of Beach Street has received the necessary permits to raise the road, and as a result, we are seeing developers begin the construction of townhouses on the former Chick’s Drive in site. The road raising will begin this summer. We removed the blighted skate park and cleaned up that area along Beach Street. Hartford Health Care has moved into the Allingtown Center. Many new restaurants and small business continue to invest in West Haven, making our city their home. The Havens property is finally being cleaned up with the demolition of houses and buildings.”
Rossi reported the city is working with the ARPA Committee to use more of the federal funds. She noted the panel, which was set up to manage oversight of the fund distribution, has earmarked funds for many projects in various parts of the city.
Projects noted by Mrs. Rossi in her address included: retention funding for the West Haven Police Department; improvements at the senior center; addressing food insecurity; street paving; renovations to parks public spaces and athletic facilities; renovations, and updates to the utility infrastructure in city buildings including schools; stormwater and flooding improvements; and sidewalk safety; and ADA improvements around city schools.
She ended saying she was looking forward to working with the council as it begins its review of the budget, and thanked members of the Finance Department for their assistance in preparing the package.
Following the April 3 meeting, the council will meet as a Committee of the Whole to review the budget. By charter, the budget must be finalized by the first Thursday in May.