Maturo Planning No Tax Increase in East Haven

By Jack Kramer, Correspondent

EAST HAVEN, CT – Despite a reduction in the town’s Grand List and potential cuts in state aid, East Haven Mayor Joseph Maturo Jr. said today that he intends to recommend a no-tax increase budget for fiscal year 2017-18.

Maturo said: “We are currently reviewing budget submissions from various town departments. However, based on savings generating by reducing our debt to historically low levels and assuming that state funding remains moderately on par with allocations in recent years, I am prepared to recommend a no-tax increase budget.”

In December, the town’s independent auditor confirmed East Haven ran a $1.13 million surplus for the 2016-2017 budget, a cushion that Maturo said allows the town to hold the line on taxes and still move forward with aggressive capital and infrastructure campaign in the next year to 18 months.

Maturo did offer a word of caution in his no-tax increase pledge.

“State cuts could potentially force the Town Council to raise taxes,” the mayor said. “However I am cautiously optimistic that our state legislators, including Senate Republican President Pro Tempore Len Fasano and newly appointed Deputy Majority Leader James Albis will advocate to preserve the funding which our municipality deserves and relies upon.”

East Haven recently had its school funding grant cut by $145,000 by the state as part of a plan to shave $20 million off of money that was originally promised towns by state government.

The state is facing a $1.5 billion budget deficit, and towns such as East Haven are bracing for even more cuts to its municipal aid from Hartford.