Leaders from several youth sports groups asked Ansonia Aldermen to restore subsidies traditionally provided to their organizations that would be cut by a proposal put forward by Mayor David Cassetti.
The mayor has presented what he calls a “worst case scenario” budget to Aldermen that would deliver significant cuts to a number of departments, such as the library, where seven positions could be eliminated.
Click here for a previous story on the proposal.
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Also facing a cut is the city’s recreation department.
Its budget for this year totaled $127,974. Under the mayor’s proposal, that would be reduced to $83,381, a cut of $44,593, or 34.85 percent.
The proposed cuts come from contributions the city traditionally makes to youth sports groups.
See the document below for line-by-line details.
Proposed Recreation Budget Detail by The Valley Indy on Scribd
The mayor and his advisors blame the potential cuts on shortfalls in state grants to subsidize public education.
They’ve been waging a public relations battle in op-ed pieces and on social media to pressure state lawmakers into sending more money to the city for schools.
On Thursday (Feb. 23), the Board of Aldermen’s finance committee met for the first time to discuss the budget for next year.
Rec Groups: Help Us
During the meeting’s public session officials from youth sports groups asked Aldermen that if cuts have to be made, look for them elsewhere.
If not, fewer kids will participate in sports, they said.
Ansonia Little League President Colleen Rondon told Aldermen the organization had more than 400 participants last year.
They currently charge $65 to $90 per player.
But if they lose help from the city, which contributed $5,700 last year, those fees will increase about $20 per player. At least.
“Since this addition would likely prohibit some youth from participating, the increased costs would have to be spread amongst fewer players,” she said. “On behalf of our city’s youth, I implore you to reinstate the funding for our recreation programs. Please don’t balance the budget on the backs of our kids.”
Kevin O’Brien, the president of the Ansonia Soccer Club, told Aldermen that if they lose a $6,000 contribution from the city registration fees would go up about $25 per player, from $70 to $90 to $100 to $120.
“We feverishly fundraise, we do our best to close the gaps, but it gets tough,” he said.
The cut would hurt even more because last year the program saw an uptick in participation — from 228 players to 311 — from fall to spring, when numbers typically drop off.
“Our program is growing, so the need for these funds is even more prevalent,” O’Brien said.
Keith Maynard, a former Alderman and current president of the city’s Pop Warner football program, said registration costs for his organization could go up $85 per player without the city kicking in a requested $12,500.
A few years ago the organization dropped its fees from $250 to $150 per player to encourage more participation, he said. An uptick in fees will have the opposite effect.
“The numbers are going to drop,” Maynard said.
Anne Lynch, vice chair of the city’s Recreation Commission, asked the Aldermen to find other ways to save money.
She noted that youth sports programs, in addition to keeping children active and healthy, also help reduce crime and anti-social behavior.
She said she’s been “bombarded” from families saying they won’t be able to deal with the potential increases in costs.
“As a community, please don’t forget about our kids,” Lynch said. “Help them out, help their families.”
Cassetti: ‘Worst Case’
It’s still relatively early in the budget process.
Thursday’s meeting was the first time Aldermen have looked through Cassetti’s “worst case scenario” proposal.
The city’s Board of Apportionment and Taxation is reviewing the mayor’s proposal and will make its own suggestions for changes after deliberations scheduled for 6 p.m. at City Hall on the evenings of Feb. 27, March 1, and March 6.
The Board of Aldermen’s finance committee will then hold workshops with officials before making their own recommendations, and the city’s charter gives the full Board of Aldermen until late April to finalize a spending plan.
The mayor on Monday continued to emphasize the “worst case” nature of the budget proposal, saying it’s up to state lawmakers to pass a proposal from Gov. Dannel Malloy that would deliver millions more in funding to the city’s schools.
“In the end I’m confident that everything will be restored, I really am,” the mayor said.
