New Britain Common Council Special Meeting on FY 2025-2026 Budget, May 28, 2025

The New Britain Common Council held a special meeting on May 28, 2025, at 6:00 PM (reconvened at 6:55 PM) in Council Chambers to consider the Mayor's Proposed General Fund, Special Revenue Funds, Enterprise Funds, and Capital Improvement Program (LoCIP) budgets for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. Following public testimony and council debate, the council adopted the General Fund budget as amended by a successful amendment offered by Alderman Santiago, which shifted $1.1 million in Board of Education funding from a non-operating grant to the operating (MBR) side, eliminated two city positions, reduced the Celebrating New Britain event allocation, and added $20,000 to homeless prevention funds. The tax rate reduction was maintained.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Jason Vellani (Wallingford, reference librarian and union president at New Britain Public Library): Advocated for fully funding the library's proposed 8% budget increase, citing the library's return on investment and need for wage equity to recruit and retain staff.
• John Pirrow (JT) (196 Roxbury Road, New Britain): Urged the council to use a social determinants of mental health framework in budget decisions, specifically supporting increased funding for education counseling and special education services.
• Mary Rogers (298 Cherry Street, New Britain): Expressed support for the budget suggestion that does not reduce the mill rate, stating the proposed $81 annual savings ($7/month) is not worth cuts to vital services like the Board of Education and library.
• Alicia Strong (2017 Corbin Avenue, New Britain, New Britain Racial Justice Coalition): Presented a petition with over 150 signatures calling for more investment in schools, housing, and the library. Opposed a symbolic tax cut, urging the council to fund public services instead.
• Patrick Thompson (241 High Street, New Britain): Urged adoption of a budget maintaining the current tax rate with increased investment in public services, including an 8% library increase and more for education. Criticized the mayor's priorities.
• Jacob Pudlin (407 Monroe Street): Supported increased funding for schools, stating that saving $6–$7 a month is less important than fixing education funding.
• Alexander Soria (83 Kim Drive): Voiced support for funding education, the library, and public services instead of cutting taxes by $7/month.
• Ann Spire (13 Audubon Street, New Britain): Opposed the $7/month tax cut, urging the council to use that money for another teacher or para. Praised the library's administration and services.
• Christy Del Aguila (414 Alexander Road): Criticized flat funding of schools, stating it leads to teacher burnout, crime, and families leaving. Urged a bipartisan investment in education.
• Alexis Crowley (94 Upton Street): Opposed cutting taxes at the expense of libraries and schools, noting the library's role as a safe space and its support for artists and the homeless.
• Brian Chong (407 Monroe Street, Teamsters Union Local 671): Spoke on behalf of 23 school bus drivers at First Student New Britain, who faced layoffs due to federal education funding cuts. Advocated for a budget that supports working people and essential services.
• John Christoph (292 Linwood): Suggested the council focus on spending priorities rather than always raising taxes. Cited specific expenditures (B-High Bridge, Stanley Golf Course, city hall windows) as potential sources for savings.
• Rona Cohen (25 South High Street): As a parent of a child with school difficulties, voiced opposition to cuts to education and library services, saying the city needs strong citizens and that education is key to that.
• Kelly Noss (29 Cedar Street): Supporting the library, noting its role as a shelter and resource for homeless people and those needing community service referrals.
• Gail Connolly (2200 Stanley Street): Calculated her own potential tax cut would be about $683 per month. Urged funding education as a top priority, along with public safety.

Discussion Items

• Acceptance of committee reports: The council unanimously accepted reports from the Committee on Planning, Zoning and Housing and the Committee on Administration, Finance and Law and Public Services regarding the mayor's proposed budgets.
• Alderman Santiago's amendment to the General Fund budget: After public testimony, Alderman Santiago introduced an amendment to the resolution on the General Fund budget (Item 3). The amendment proposed:
  • Transfer $1.1 million from the non-operating grant to the operating side of the Board of Education budget (increasing the MBR).
  • Eliminate two positions: Revenue Collection Specialist (savings of $70,623) and Economic Development Business Specialist.
  • Reduce the Celebrating New Britain event allocation from $100,000 to $50,000.
  • Add $20,000 to the Community Services homeless prevention fund (line item 001-5230-04-582).
  • Maintain the tax break as proposed by the mayor.
• Council debate on the amendment:
  • Alderman Smedley (opposing) raised concerns about the elimination of the Revenue Collection Specialist, noting it is a union position with supervisory duties, and about eliminating the Economic Development Business Specialist, which could slow business development. He also corrected a public comment about bus driver layoffs, stating the Board of Ed renewed the bus contract for three years at $34 million with expanded scope.
  • Alderman Simpson (supporting) clarified that the bus driver layoffs were due to federal cuts, not municipal action.
  • Alderwoman Barbosa (supporting) questioned where the Revenue Collection Specialist's duties would shift, noting the position had been unfilled for nearly two years.
  • Alderman McMahon (supporting) argued that with the addition of a COO and an appointed revenue collector, the eliminated positions could be absorbed. He emphasized the need to fund the library and schools.
  • Alderwoman Savedra (opposing) noted the budget already eliminated one revenue collector position, and that the specialist position had been vacant for only about five months, with an aide covering duties. She clarified the city's intent to merge tax and water specialist roles.
  • Alderwoman Later (opposing) argued the library has received increases for five years and does not face closure. She contended the Board of Education has not been flat funded, citing growth in MBR, ECS, and a special grant program. She pointed out 22 paraeducator and 32 certified teacher vacancies (including 11 special education teachers) that are fully funded but unfilled, questioning the district's hiring capacity. She stated the amendment does not change the total amount to the Board of Ed but only changes the funding mechanism.
  • Alderman Santiago (supporting) emphasized that the non-operating grant requires the Board of Ed to request funds each time, which creates uncertainty. He argued the amendment invests in services that residents want and that the city needs to support its children and vulnerable populations.
• Clarification from Dr. Tony Gasper (Superintendent of Schools): Dr. Gasper confirmed that non-operating funds require an extra request to the city, though all such requests during his tenure have been granted. He acknowledged that moving funds to the operating side (MBR) would guarantee them year over year under state law, making funding more stable.
• Final vote on amendment: The amendment passed on a party-line vote (8-7).
• Adoption of the amended General Fund budget (Item 3): The council adopted the General Fund budget as amended on a recorded roll call vote of 8-7: Ayes – McNamara, Sanchez, Simpson, Barbosa, McAdam, Scott, Connors, Santiago; Nays – Smedley, Beloin Savedra, Russell, Hargraves, Gibson, Melanowski, Pabone.
• Special Revenue and Enterprise Funds (Item 4): The council adopted the resolution on a recorded roll call vote of 15-0.
• Capital Improvement Program (LoCIP) (Item 5): The council adopted the resolution on a recorded roll call vote of 15-0. Alderwoman Savedra noted that for the first time, the LoCIP includes three Board of Education projects (LED lighting at an unspecified school, DeLoretta School flooring replacement, and Slade School locker replacements) at Mayor Stewart's request.

Key Outcomes

• General Fund Budget (Item 3): Adopted as amended by a 8-7 recorded roll call vote. The amendment shifted $1.1 million from the non-operating grant to the operating (MBR) side of the Board of Education budget, eliminated the Revenue Collection Specialist and Economic Development Business Specialist positions, reduced the Celebrating New Britain event from $100,000 to $50,000, and added $20,000 to homeless prevention funds. The tax rate reduction was maintained.
• Special Revenue Funds and Enterprise Funds Budget (Item 4): Adopted unanimously (15-0).
• Capital Improvement Program / LoCIP Budget (Item 5): Adopted unanimously (15-0). The program includes three Board of Education projects for the first time.
• Adjournment: The special meeting adjourned at 7:58 PM. Public participation for the regular meeting began shortly thereafter.