I applaud Mayor Cassetti’s efforts to reduce the mill rate and cut taxes. For the first time in years, we are making a serious attempt to control spending.
However, as an Alderman in Ward 1, which has Senior Assisted Living and more than a fair amount of crime, I feel that I have a moral responsibility to point out the cost to public health and safety of this budget: health and safety is a big issue for us in the first Ward.
I made an effort at the Finance Committee to negotiate a deduction of $150,000 in the Board of Education’s budget. (In FY 2014 – 2015, only the BOE and the Mayor’s office will increase their budget: the BOE receives $1.58M — a 5.5 percent — increase and the Mayor’s Office has a budget increase of $7.6 percent after taking into account the mayor is getting paid less than his predecessor).
(Editor’s note: Click the play button above to see Aldermen talking about the city’s budget at a meeting last week. Stowe makes remarks at about the 2:30 mark on the video. Click here to read a story about the budget proposal.)
We need to minimize the cuts on two important areas:
- Ansonia Rescue and Medical Service (ARMS):
ARMS collected $720,000 in revenue FY 2013 – 2014. It asked for $41,817 increase over its 2013 – 2014 budget and projects about $800,000 in revenue for next year’s budget FY 2014 – 2015.
- Police Department:
The City is asking the department to cut $300,000 from its budget request for 2014 – 2015. Reducing this to $225,000 will help secure a Police presence in the schools and the prevent reduction in the Police Detective Unit.
We need to find a more fair and evenhanded approach to cost cutting that doesn’t create more risks.
With a decrease of $150,000 in the Board of Education Budget, they still will increase their budget by $1,429,549.
We don’t have to risk the health and safety of our citizens and we can stand firm on the Mayor’s cuts.
The writer is a member of the Ansonia Board of Aldermen.
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