Mayor Bronin Statement On Budget, American Rescue Plan Funding
Published on May 19, 2021
HARTFORD, CONN (May 19, 2021) – Mayor Luke Bronin released the statement below after the Hartford City Council voted on the City’s Recommended Budget for Fiscal Year 2021-2022. With the City Council’s actions, the budget remains balanced, with no increase in property tax rate, no borrowing, and no use of one-time revenues, asset sales, or deferments of obligations.
The modifications made by the City Council include adding building, zoning, and housing inspectors, additional funding to senior centers, and additional funding to grow Hartford’s tree canopy. Those modifications are funded through corresponding reductions in other accounts where the city believes that responsible reductions can be made. Mayor Bronin now has 48 hours to accept or veto the modifications made by the City Council, and he expects to accept the modifications.
The City Council also passed Mayor Bronin’s planed allocation of American Rescue Plan funding, which includes $13,900,000 for Youth Services and Support; $11,250,000 for Community Safety and Wellness; $15,300,000 for Business Support and Activation; $7,000,000 for Non-Profit Housing Support; $5,850,000 for Arts and Culture; $47,300,000 for Economic and Community Development; $9,500,000 for critical infrastructure; and $6,600,000 for revenue replacement for eligible expenditures.
“Over the past five years we have budgeted with tremendous discipline, and this budget once againprotects core services and makes responsible investments in our community, including added capacity at public works and housing inspections,” said Mayor Bronin. “With the resources provided by the American Rescue Plan, we also have the opportunity to accelerate our recovery from the pandemic, making significant investments in our young people, in community safety and wellness,and in small business and economic growth.”
“Taken together, our budget and our allocation of American Rescue Plan funds reflect our commitment to meeting the extraordinary needs of this moment,while making sure that we’re building back better from the pandemic – laying the foundation for a stronger, more equitable, more resilient community.
“Last year, I opposed proposals to slash funding for our police force, and I opposed the similar measure this year because we need a strong, well-staffed police department to continue doing the vital and difficult work of combatting gun violence and working with our community to build safer, stronger neighborhoods. The work of building safer communities can’t fall on police alone, and I am proud of the work that we are doing to build a team of community responders who will respond to certain calls for service in place of police, and I am also proud that Hartford has been a leader when it comes to accountability and transparency in policing.”