ANSONIA — An audit is still being finalized, but the data shows the City of Ansonia ended the 2021 fiscal year with a surplus of $1,914,823, according to Kurt Miller, the city’s chief financial officer.
At a meeting of the Ansonia Board of Apportionment and Taxation (BOAT) on March 7, Miller said an outside firm is finishing up an audit of Ansonia’s financial information from fiscal year 2021. That fiscal year covers July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021.
Miller said the Ansonia school district is responsible for a chunk of the surplus. The district gave the city back $920,317 in money it did not use.
The city side of the budget had a $994,506 surplus, of which $637,555 is premium the city received from an $11 million bond offering.
Upon questioning by BOAT members, Miller said the portion given back to the city by the school district is probably the result of the school district not having to spend money on certain items because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition, Miller said the district is doing a good job managing its money.
He noted Mayor David Cassetti and School Superintendent Joseph DiBacco have built a good working relationship and trust each other.
“I think Dr. DiBacco taking over has had a very positive impact,” Miller said at the meeting. “I think, in the past, the board of ed might have spent all that money down and not sent anything back.“
The school district and the Cassetti administration were at odds over funding for years, to the point where the school district under the leadership of Superintendent Carol Merlone filed a lawsuit in 2018 that was eventually settled out of court.
DiBacco became superintendent in July 2019.
Miller said the mended relationship between city hall and the school district has resulted in “good, honest financing happening.”
“There’s a true collaboration. I think that is a testament to everyone involved,” Miller said.
