New Britain Common Council Public Hearing on FY 2025-2026 Budget – April 29, 2025

The New Britain Common Council held a public hearing on April 29, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers to receive public input on the Mayor's proposed budgets for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. The items covered were: the General Fund Budget, the Special Revenue Funds and Enterprise Funds Budget, and the Capital Improvement Program (LoCIP) Budget. Twelve council members were present. No council deliberation or votes were taken during the hearing; it was solely for public testimony.

Public Comments & Testimony

• John Whalen (266 Stanwood Drive, Vice President/Treasurer, New Britain Public Library Board of Trustees): Supported the library's requested 8% increase. Acknowledged the proposed 2% increase ($66,000, or about 1.2% of the city budget) and said the library would manage but with diminished services. Noted the city's share of library revenue dropped from 98% to 96% over the past year. Asked the council to maintain the 2% and consider additional funds if possible.
• Victor Silber (49 Clifford Street, Hamden, Library Director): Presented usage statistics: 24% increase in visitors, 17% increase in cardholders, 41% increase in computer usage, and 37% increase in program attendance. Emphasized that the proposed budget could impact expanded programming and new book purchases. Urged funding the originally requested 8% to maintain momentum.
• Ann Spire (13 Audubon Street, New Britain, former library board member, teacher): Expressed strong support for additional library funding beyond 2%. Criticized the Mayor's budget for flat-funding education, calling it "incompetence." Urged the council to find more money for public schools, citing federal cuts and the needs of students.
• Patrick Thompson (241 High Street, New Britain): Urged the council to fight the Mayor's proposed budget, calling for expansion of emergency housing for those displaced by crises (fires, national disasters) and increased operational funding for schools to hire teachers and staff.
• Carmen Rosado (156 Tartanley Street, social worker): Urged full funding of the Board of Education and creation of an emergency fund for families facing fires, sudden homelessness, or other crises. Stated that inadequate funding would harm children she works with.
• Alex Bodman (Gold Street, New Britain): Urged funding for emergency housing and fully meeting the Board of Education's budget request.
• Alicia Strong (2017 Corbin Avenue, teacher and director of New Britain Racial Justice): Supported library funding but focused on emergency housing and education. Proposed using money from a proposed tax break instead to fund schools and housing. Argued that funds should go into the operational budget rather than non-operational budget for sustainability.
• John Kristapic (292 Lindwich Street): Criticized the Mayor's budget for proposing a $4 million spending increase alongside a $1.5 million tax cut. Cited a $1,755 tax increase over two years. The proposed 0.41 mill reduction would save him only $74.03. Urged full city funding of the Allen Street project.
• Mary Rogers (New Britain resident): Noted that the proposed increase to the Board of Education is mostly in the non-operating budget. Urged fully funding the appropriation rollup (operational) instead of non-operating costs. Supported emergency housing.
• Anthony King (caller, 41 Vassar Street, teacher and taxpayer): Supported the Mayor's proposed budget. Pointed out that 49% of the city is nontaxable (hospitals, CCSU, etc.) and the commercial base is under 20%. Argued that a property tax increase would disproportionately hurt residents and renters. Urged contacting state legislators for more education funding.
• Kenneth Hog (108 Oakland Avenue, caller): Supported the Mayor's budget, defending building maintenance investments as foundational for education. Called the budget responsible and criticized opposition as rooted in rhetoric rather than fiscal stewardship.
• Pete Martwright (caller, EPL Center Road): Supported library funding and urged emergency housing and fully meeting the Board of Education's budget request. Spoke as a former teacher in an underfunded district, stressing that children suffer when schools are underfunded.
• Way for Lou (caller): Asked to keep property taxes as low as possible, noting increases have been difficult to manage.
• Jonathan Rosenfield (15 Hurlbert Street, apartment 3S, recent fire victim): Shared his personal experience of losing his home in a fire. Thanked the Red Cross and New Britain Social Services for emergency funds, but noted the funds were quickly exhausted. Urged the council to maintain an emergency housing budget and to provide unrestricted operational funding to the Board of Education to attract and retain teachers.
• Gail Connolly (2200 Stanley Street): Expressed frustration with the $2.6 million in non-operating budget for schools, arguing it cannot be used to hire teachers or paraprofessionals. Stated she would support a tax increase for education. Urged moving that money into the operating budget.
• Tina Santana (27 West Main Street, parent and resident): Supported the Mayor's proposed budget. Emphasized the need for a tax break, as property tax increases are passed on to renters. Noted her four children in the district receive special education services, and staff are dedicated. Argued the budget gets the job done and keeps New Britain affordable.

Key Outcomes

• The public hearing was closed at 6:48 PM.
• The Council President announced subcommittee meetings on May 6, 7, and 8 (the latter exclusively for the Board of Education budget) where the council will question department heads and officials based on the testimony received. No formal action was taken on the proposed resolutions.