One of the biggest cities on the shoreline could soon start feeling the consequences of the budget stalemate in Hartford.
The city of New Haven’s budget is $539 million and 41 percent of that is funded by state money, including more than $125 million for New Haven schools, Mayor Toni Harp said.
City departments depend on more than $76 million in funding from the state, Harp added.
“We can’t afford to not pick up trash,” Harp said. “We can’t afford to not clear the snow, we can’t afford not to have a functioning police department and we can’t afford to not have a fire department that keeps us safe.”
But funding for these critical city services could be in jeopardy if Governor Malloy does not sign off on a state budget soon.
“We will start to feel a funding pinch in November,” Harp said, “we run out of cash at that particular point in time.”
Despite that looming deadline, Mayor Harp said she has her concerns with the $40 billion Republican spending plan approved by state lawmakers in both chambers last week.
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New Haven schools could feel the biggest impact.
“We are in the same boat with the City,” NHPS Chief Operating Officer Will Clark said in an email. “Literally would not be able to make payroll or pay for contracts/services largely due to lack of ECS and other state payments as well as grants, etc.”
Leaders from New Haven’s Board of Alders said they will consider and evaluate all options as the budget situation develops. The Mayor said she may consult the alders about possibly borrowing money.
“Hopefully the legislature will get the message and pass a budget that is fair and reasonable particularly to our most challenged cities and to our overall education system,” Harp said.
Governor Dannel Malloy plans to give the GOP budget a full vetting, but he intends to veto it.
