The Hartford City Council passed a budget Sunday afternoon, ahead of the midnight deadline. It hikes taxes but not as much as they would have increased with no budget.
The Council voted, 5-4, to enact a $535 million plan with a mil rate increase of 4.44, or 6.5 percent tax increase, for the fiscal year 2009-2010.
The vote comes after 40 days of heated debates, a postponed vote on Thursday and what seemed like mile high hurdles.
"We all did the best we could for the city of Hartford, all nine of us in the council and the mayor," said Councilman Mark Ritter, one of five council members who voted in favor of the budget.
Under this adjusted budget, Mayor Eddie Perez lowered the mil rate to 4.4, increasing taxes by $14.6 million.
Had the budget not passed before the midnight deadline, the city would have had to continue working under this year's budget and the mil rate hike would have deferred to 16, increasing taxes by $58.8 million.
Either way, it raises taxes for businesses and homeowners who say they feel like they’re being priced out of their own town.
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"I’ve had more than 100 percent increase on my taxes in the last five years," said Darrell Sullivan, the owner of Lena’s Pizzeria in Hartford.
Council members who firmly opposed the budget said the mayor did not do enough to balance the books.
"There were no reductions of any kind, the mayor's staff didn't reduce the budget, which is still the biggest of any municipality, " said Councilman Kenneth Kennedy, who voted against the budget. "We didn't reduce any of our $100,000 employees."
Instead, Kennedy said, Perez just moved numbers around to get the needed five votes.
"All we did was raise the revenue projections, which is an accounting game," said Kennedy.
"Everything around us is increasing. You’re paying more for goods. You’re paying for gas. You’re paying more for groceries. I just don’t see how you can make ends meet," said Joe Glover of Hartford.
Perez was not available for comment after the budget was passed but he spoke to the press prior to the vote, where he predicted a tough year ahead.
"Council and myself have been able to put together what we consider one of the toughest budgets in the city over the last 50 years," said Perez. "It’s a budget that we're going to have to work all 12 months to meet."
The city council vote on the budget went as follows:
- Council President Calixto Torres (D): Yes
- Majority Leader Jo Winch (D): Yes
- Assist. Majority Leader Jim Boucher (D): Yes
- Councilman Matt Ritter (D): Yes
- Councilwoman Veronica Airey-Wilson (R): Yes
- Minority Leader Larry Deutsch (WFP): No
- Councilperson Luis Cotto (WFP): No
- Councilman Ken Kennedy (D): No
- Councilman Pedro Segarra (D): No
