$1M Cut From Stratford Budget, Proposed Mill Rate Stays The Same

STRATFORD, CT — Stratford’s budget is set for 2021 after the Town Council made about $1 million in cuts before approving it Thursday.

Prior to the vote, the council changed over 50 expenditures, reaching a final budget of $233.3 million. The council also passed the accompanying mill rate of 39.64, a year-over-year decrease of 0.58 percent. While the budget was cut by nearly $1 million, the mill rate did not change due to lowered revenue projections for property tax payments and investment income.

“Every department decreased expenditures. It was a team effort,” said council Chair Christopher Pia, R-District 1, in an interview after the vote. “We’re living in crazy times, and we’ve got to work together.”

Mayor Laura Hoydick’s proposed budget was put forth in early March, but since then, the coronavirus outbreak has drastically changed life in Connecticut, resulting in thousands of deaths and an uncertain economic future.

Among the reductions made Thursday were $200,000 from the school board, $125,000 from the library, and payroll cuts ranging from about $50,000 to $100,000 in various departments, including police, sanitation, senior services and economic development, Pia confirmed. The reductions were the result of lowered insurance, utility and paving costs, as well as the decision not to hire for previously proposed positions.

In an email after the vote, Councilman Gregory Cann, D-District 5, criticized the way the cuts were presented at Thursday’s meeting, which was held online due to the virus.

“Introducing 50 amendments with zero notice is not consistent with democratic representation,” he said.

Cann voted against the budget, which passed, 7-3. Councilman Paul Tavaras, D-District 3, and Councilwoman Kaitlyn Shake, D-District 2, also cast dissenting votes.

Cann took issue with the mill rate, noting that due to a property revaluation last fall, many homeowners will pay more in taxes for 2021 because their property values have risen. The mill rate is the number of dollars in taxes charged for every $1,000 of a property's assessed value.

According to a town revaluation report published last month by the Connecticut Post, the town’s more than 15,000 residential properties saw a cumulative increase in value of roughly 4 percent. About 200 properties had a change in value of 20 percent to 25 percent. Approximately 100 properties changed in value by 50 percent or more.

“The town is expecting its low and moderate income residential home owners will cheerfully pay a 10 – 40% increase in property taxes,” Cann said in the email. “… These low & mod income families have been hardest hit by economic turmoil of stagnant wages and reduced employment opportunities – a situation only made worse by the recent COVID-19 pandemic.”

In response, Pia said it was a good thing property values in town were on the upswing, but noted not all home values increased.

Among Cann’s other concerns about the budget, which he said relied on “gimmicks,” were the town’s use of $7 million in debt liability to subsidize expenses over the course of two budget years and its expected receipt of a $2.2 million increase in state funding.

Pia said the town for its 2021 budget used $3.5 million in bonds to offset taxes, but that the bonds were, “a normal line item much like any other revenue source.” He said the $2.2 million increase Cann referenced was projected by the state.

“There’s no gimmicks in the budget,” Pia said.

In a town news release, the mayor acknowledged the possibility that officials may need to revisit the budget over the course of the coming fiscal year.

“These are challenging and uncertain times at all levels of government due to the COVID-19 public health emergency,” she said. “… However, I remain proud of the fact that this administration worked collaboratively with this Town Council as we have with the previous two budgets to end that cycle of increases and to start delivering some modest decreases.”