The mayors of the state's largest cities joined forces Friday to warn against possible municipal spending cuts that they say won't just hurt them but will also hurt entire regions.
“We are in a state of fiscal crisis on the municipal and urban level," cautioned Waterbury Mayor Neil O'Leary.
The main message coming from all of the mayors who are also Democrats, Bridgeport's Joe Ganim, New Haven's Toni Harp, and Waterbury's O'Neil, is that reductions related to car tax reform last year could cripple the cities' budgets.
“We're clearly, heavily dependent on every dollar that comes from the state," said Ganim, the newly reelected mayor of Bridgeport.
Senate Bill 1, approved by lawmakers and signed into law last year changed the way car tax payments are collected while also capping local car tax rates. The money is then sent back to the cities and towns at the original rates, putting more money into municipalities' coffers.
“If we lose what we’ve gained from SB1, I can tell you that the city of Waterbury, particularly on the education side will be dramatically, dramatically impacted in a very negative way," O'Leary said during the press conference.
Republicans in the Connecticut House and Senate unveiled their budget saving plan earlier this week. It included $24 million in reductions for cities and towns.
Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano, (R - North Haven), said in a statement that the cuts aren't their desire, but a necessity.
"When faced with the decision of funding programs for the most vulnerable or dispersing new funds, we have to support the most vital services first and preserve the safety net," Sen. Fasano said.
"Cities will have to make tough choices, have discussions with labor, and trim bureaucracy so funding can go to those who need it most - something I think the mayor of Hartford actually recognizes."
He's referring to overtures made by new Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, who wasn't able to attend the news conference Friday, to close the city's worsening budget hole by reopening union negotiations to try to reduce the city's burden.
Rep. Toni Walker, (D - New Haven), who chairs the Appropriations Committee says she urges regional cooperation and sharing in services many in government believe to be politically tenuous: public safety.
“We could talk about how maybe some of the larger cities could help the smaller cities in police work and fire work and many of the other things," she said.
Mayor Joe Ganim, only back on the job for the past two and a half months, says if cities aren't supported then some of the most prosperous regions in the state will go down with them.
“Yes, the region is tied together in living unfortunately and if the city fails in any way, completely or incrementally, it impacts the region negatively.”
