A city budget is never perfect.
Each year, in every city and town across America, elected leaders are forced to weigh the cost of city services against what the taxpayers can afford to pay. Ansonia is not isolated from this difficult dance, which demands the ability to see the whole picture and the capacity to make tough decisions.
I feel the budget we are presenting to the Board of Aldermen this Tuesday, February 11, 2014, accomplishes what we set out to do.
After years of consecutive tax increases I am pleased to report that the budget will see at least a .73 mill drop in the tax rate. Moreover, the tax decrease will be accomplished without destructive cuts to city services and in spite of a grand list that has dropped sharply over the past two years.
How was this result achieved? Through the Mayor’s philosophy of giving City department heads a voice on how to best manage necessary cuts.
After all, department heads know how to best run their department; that is why they are in charge. I do not believe any department is “thrilled” with the amount of funding they have received. However, all departments have made clear that this budget is ultimately livable and will result in no dramatic loss of services.
Understandably, there are those who will aggressively lobby for certain departments to be funded at a higher rate. This is to be expected in any budget process.
As Chairman of the Board of Aldermen’s Finance Sub-Committee, my goal was to work with my fellow aldermen and Mayor Dave Cassetti on formulating a pragmatic budget that could move the city forward while being fiscally responsible to taxpayers.
In the end, however, I whole-heartedly believe that we have crafted an honest budget that puts the needs of the City and taxpayers over political ideology or party lines.
Taxpayers deserve results, not political talking points.
By no means is our work done. Ansonia taxpayers are saddled with the ninth highest tax rate in Connecticut and taxpayers deserve more relief. I see this year’s budget as only the first step in the right direction.
City Hall’s next task will be to turn its attention to the costs and expenses tied-up in antiquated contracts and service agreements that cannot be addressed in the context of budget cuts.
This is a process that will begin immediately under the direction of Mayor Cassetti.
For now, I believe that we have achieved a small victory in debunking the myth that yearly tax increases in Ansonia are inevitable and unavoidable. The results this year may not be “perfect,” but they are honest and responsible.
The writer represents Ansonia’s Second Ward on the Board of Aldermen and is chairman of the Aldermen’s finance committee.