The Town Council trimmed Mayor Melody Currey's proposed spending plan by over $2.2 million Tuesday night, loping approximately one-third off her proposed 9.2 percent increase. But it was the areas cut, and the feeling that employees are deserving of proper compensation - especially her directors who are paid below the municipal averages - that has the mayor considering whether she should sign the document or not. By Charter the mayor has until Friday to weigh her options, and could veto the plan, sending it back to the Council - or simply not sign it at all.
The Council decided $150.8 million ought to be spent by the town and board of education in 2010-11. Part of that includes funds the Board might eventually return to town-side coffers in ‘banking' town contingency funds to comply with the state's minimum school funding requirement.
The bottom line for taxpayers is still not quite settled, pending the referendum. Based on Tuesday's approved spending package, property taxes will go up 2.15 mills - twice as much as town spending increase of $1.9 million. The reason is a sharp decline in all revenue sources, from the state Payments in Lieu of Taxes to fees and permits and real estate conveyance taxes. To get there the Council also cut more positions than the mayor had suggested. Ten positions will be eliminated or left vacant, including a reorganization of the commander level at the EH Police Dept. The next impact will be a 6.8 percent increase in taxes with a mill rate of 33.82.
The Council rolled back the spending clock to 2008-09, but still had to fund it with a tax increase.
Former mayor Susan Kniep and blogger Jon Searles said they will start collecting signatures hopeful of garnering the 5,000 - 15 percent - of residents necessary to hold a referendum. After that, another 20 percent of residents have to cast ballots, nearly the same number than voted in the last municipal election. Given the dismal voter turnout of late in East Hartford, that Charter requirement may be the biggest challenge.
"If we don't have a petition on Saturday, come out from 9 to 12 and we will be collecting your names, or e-mail me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ," said Kniep. "It's a whole lot of work. But anything worthwhile is a lot of work."
Kniep commended Town Council Republican Eric Thompson for his proposals to eliminate town employees driving town cars home at night. "I agree with Eric. As far as unions go, not one cent should be given to a wage increase. And if the unions don't get it, there is an even bigger problem. They should be grateful in simply having a job," said Kniep. "Melody Currey vice president of CCM and John DeStefano both threw up their arms when Jodi Rell asked for volunteers and said what can we do? They should have led the charge to reform binding arbitration."
Republicans on the Council came up with their own budget suggestions. (See page 15). Calling for closing two outdoor pools and cutting all raises for the mayor's directors and for a plan for merit pay increases rather than automatic pay hikes.
The Council went along with Mayor Currey's elimination of the just departed deputy police chief and newly-hired assistant to the police chief, and cut a position in the Public Works department. The budget also includes going forward with work on the town's dikes, the roadway at Rentschler Field, a roll-out of the new single-stream waste container system and planned wholescale revamping of the town's elementary school organizational structure, possibly with more departmentalization and specialization at each town elementary school. Such a plan would result in increased transportation costs for the younger of the district's 7,000 pupils.
But the plan is seen as countering the pull of the area's magnet schools which now draw 900 students from the East Hartford school system at a tuition cost of approximately $3,400 per student.
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