New Britain State Aid By The Numbers

GOP Mayor Stays Partisan, Pans State Budget That Helps City and Reduces Auto Tax

Rumblings from the State Capitol and Governor Malloy’s office indicate that a special session of the Legislature later this month may consider a rollback on some businesses taxes adopted in the biennial budget enacted on June 3rd.

Major property tax relief and a $1.7 increased in educational cost sharing (ECS) aid, however, remain intact for the fiscal year that begins July 1 and for the following fiscal year.

After adoption Mayor Erin Stewart voiced strong skepticism of the state aid package and was critical of the plan to reduce car taxes with use of state sales tax revenue.  In 2013, Stewart campaigned heavily against the state-imposed car tax.

“This is more than a 200-page document, and no one seems to have the hard facts on the effects to the city,” Stewart told the New Britain Herald. “We’ll be down on what we can collect in car taxes, and the state is telling us in this budget that it will be made up in the form of a PILOT [payment in lieu of taxes]. But how can I trust that when the state has never given us our fair share to begin with? It all comes down to who do you trust with your money.”  Stewart has also falsely claimed that members of the New Britain legislative failed to return her calls. State Senator Terry Gerratana, State Rep. Rick Lopes and State Rep. Peter Tercyak said the Mayor never made any calls on behalf of the city to them.

The “hard facts” that escaped  Mayor Stewart have been widely reported including amounts of state aid for all cities and towns.   The CT Mirror broke down the numbers for all cities and towns in a June 3rd article.

For the fiscal year that begins on July 1 the city is due to receive a record $100,968,527 including an increase in educational cost sharing to $86,678,662.  In adopting a municipal budget still steeped in borrowing and faulty City Hall revenue estimates,  the administration and Common Council was given the following: state property payment in lieu of taxes, $3,939,191; Pequot grants, $2,230,347; public school transportation, $1,223,028; non-Public School Transportation, $194,390; adult education, $601,280; LOCIP (roads), $991,377, and; municipal projects, $1,383,881.

McNamara 2015 Reception Is Thursday, 6/18, At Cafe Beauregard

The McNamara 2015 Committee will hold a reception on Thursday, June 18th, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Cafe Beauregard, 2 Main street in New Britain.

John McNamara

DTC Chairman John McNamara has formed an exploratory committee in pursuit of municipal office this year. “Our city faces challenges to maintain the services that residents need, to reduce the burdens of a regressive property tax and to build a sustainable community not just for some, but all its citizens,” McNamara said. “One year after residents were hit with an 11% tax hike, higher fees and cuts to services a vigorous  debate on City Hall budget priorities and policies is needed.”

Donations of choice are welcome to the McNamara 2015 Committee. The maximum allowable donation is $375.  A McNamara 2015 event For more information johnhmcnamara@gmail.com. Tel 860-416-0665

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