taxes
New Britain’s Bond Rating Drops From Stable To Negative: Huge Spike In Debt Through 2021 Cited By Moody’s
By John McNamara Contributing Columnist Republican incumbent Mayor Erin Stewart, in her re-election campaign this year and throughout her second term, has touted improving municipal bond ratings for New Britain’s fiscal solvency, claiming credit for budget surpluses of $15 million and pushing spending up at City Hall with no need for an election year tax […]
Ward 2 Candidates Discuss Serving New Britain’s East Side
Democrats Lamar Bowsky and Brian Keith Albert are discussing improvements to the city economy and community services for the people of New Britain’s East Side in their challenge to first-term incumbent Republicans Jerrell Hargraves (R-2) and Kristian Rosado (R-2) in the City Council elections in Ward 2. New Britain’s Ward 2 elects two members of the […]
Reportedly False Attempt to Bury Article on Stewart Tax Mailing Elections Complaint
Democratic City Council candidate Bobby Berriault reports that someone falsely used his identity in an attempt to have Facebook remove a New Britain Progressive article about an elections complaint filed against Republican Mayor Erin Stewart. This New Britain Progressive article reports that a formal complaint has been filed against Stewart with the State Elections Enforcement Commission […]
Berriault Calls for Change in Leadership Because of Taxes and Spending
By Bobby Berriault After two terms of Mayor Erin Stewart, I say it’s time for a change in leadership. In her two terms of office, Republican Mayor Stewart raised our property taxes by 19% or $19,231,280! Our mill rate is currently at 50.5 mills, making it the fourth most expensive of any town in the State […]
Proposed 23% Mayoral Pay Increase Re-Emerges As Issue in Debate on School System Salaries
The proposal promoted by Republican Mayor Erin Stewart to increase the mayor’s salary by 23% was thrust again into attention by the recent controversy among city Republicans about the salary levels of three school system staff members. In a recent article and editorial in the New Britain City Journal, Republican elected officials allied with Stewart […]
$15.5 Million Deficit Appears Hidden in Stewart’s Budget
The city budget proposed by Republican Mayor Erin Stewart has what appears to have a hidden $15,541,294 deficit built into it, a deficit that could continue to re-appear into future budget years. Stewart’s budget contains two substantial budget lines that are based on short-term assumptions. The first, as the New Britain Progressive reported in April, […]
Increases in Water and Sewer Charges Planned
The Republican-dominated City Council will consider two separate plans on May 24th, submitted by the administration of Republican Mayor Erin Stewart, to increase the amount city residents will pay in water and sewer fees. The proposal for water charges would increase the fee for city water from $27.82 per thousand cubic foot of water used in […]
Stewart Proposes Freeze on City Education Support, Increase in City Hall Spending
Republican Mayor Erin Stewart’s proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1st would freeze city support for New Britain’s schools while increasing overall city spending and pushing taxpayer debt into the future. Stewart’s General Fund budget proposal would increase city General Fund spending by $2,167,486 to a total of $241,537,535. Funding for the New Britain school […]
23% Increase in Mayor’s Salary Proposed
The Republican-dominated City Council is considering a proposal that would increase the salary of the city’s mayor by 23%, up to $108,016. Currently Republican Mayor Erin Stewart’s salary is $87,634, an amount that is more than twice the 2015 New Britain median household income of $40,457. The proposed mayoral salary of $108,016 would be 267% of what the […]
Support for Malloy Budget Increasing State Aid to New Britain
By Bobby Berriault I write in strong support of Governor Malloy’s proposed state budget for FY 18 and FY 19. His budget calls for increasing state aid to New Britain by $24.2 million over the course of the next two years over what we currently receive. His proposal allows municipalities like New Britain to add […]
City Hall Watch: Deferring Municipal Debt Payment Means Cash Now, Higher Interest Next Year
By John McNamara The Stewart administration is shifting $6 million from a scheduled payment on the city’s rising municipal debt— creating an election year windfall to avert yet another tax increase. The Common Council approved what representatives of William Blair & Company, the city’s bond counsel, called a “re-structuring” of a $28 million bond at […]
Stewart’s Economic Record Criticized
By Bobby Berriault I take issue with Mayor Erin Stewart’s recent assertion that our city’s economy is better than ever. While it is true that a few businesses have moved into New Britain – namely the food truck that is downtown a few hours a week, for every business that has moved into our city, […]
Stewart-Proposed High-Level Bureaucrat and Department Head Residency Requirement At Issue
Republican Mayor Erin Stewart will ask the Republican-dominated City Council to approve her choice to lead the “Human Resources Department”. The new high-level bureaucratic position was created when the Council approved Stewart’s proposal to increase the number of city departments to fifteen, including the creation of the Human Resources Department. Who her choice is for the position […]
City Purchasing Nearly $500,000 of New Vehicles
Press Pool Story The Republican-dominated City Council is considering a proposal from the administration of Mayor Erin Stewart to purchase $495,078.84 for various motor vehicles. Under proposal, the city would purchase $461,578.84 of vehicles from Crowley Ford, LLC of Plainville: Also, the proposal calls for the purchase of $33,500.00 for one vehicle from Crowley Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge of […]
City Bureaucracy Under Stewart to Grow Again While Concerns Rise Over Weakening of Human Rights and Opportunities
Press Pool Story The Republican-dominated City Council approved a city reorganization plan proposed by Mayor Erin Stewart (R) that, once again, increases the number of city departments, while placing the city’s Human Rights and Opportunities Officer and Commission under the newly-created “Human Resources Department”. The City’s Human Rights and Opportunities Officer and Commission have historically provided oversight […]