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NORWALK, Conn. – Norwalk's property taxes are going up. And if Common Council President Carvin Hilliard has his way, they will go up even more than the city of Norwalk has recommended.
The Common Council's Finance Committee was unable to reach a consensus on a recommended budget cap Thursday night at a special meeting at Concert Hall. That left it to Hilliard, the committee's chairman, to make a resolution on the matter. Hilliard said he would do it in the morning.
Asked what that meant, Hilliard, who was on his way out the door, said, "I will propose an increase, a number. As you can gather from the exchange we had, I'm pro-education. I think that's a great equalizer. Kids, poor kids, that's a great equalizer in our society. I'm not for a rich city like Norwalk taking savings out on education."
Pressed for a number, Hilliard, a Democrat, said he would recommend a property tax increase of about 5.5 percent. "I may go 5.5; I don't know, 6."
Thomas Hamilton, the city's finance director, recommended a 3.8 percent increase, under guidance from Mayor Richard Moccia. That proposed budget for 2012-13 included a 3.5 percent increase in the amount of money spent on education. That is substantially less than the 6.9 percent increase requested by the Board of Education, which Hamilton said is "simply unaffordable" for Norwalk's taxpayers.
It also included closing the Norwalk Museum and privatizing the city's garbage collection.
Thursday night's meeting began with more than an hour of public comment. Members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 2405 spoke against the plan to privatize garbage collection and 10 people spoke against closing the Norwalk Museum.
The union members, who work for the Department of Public Works, said privatizing the garbage collection would not save the city money, as Hamilton, DPW Director Hal Alvord and Moccia say it will.
"We have seen our trees division and Christmas tree pickups get contracted out to privateers only to realize that it should have stayed in house because it became apparent that it was cheaper," said Hector DeJesus. "I have also seen the water treatment plant get privatized only to see taxes go up."
Eric Chandler, a member of the historical commission, said it would be "penny-wise, pound foolish and short-sighted" to close the museum or move it to another location. "The museum is in its most effective location where it is now," he said.
Republican council member Nick Kydes jumped off the stage to become a public speaker. "You know I'm a financial conservative," he said. "I'm very keen on keeping the taxes low. ... But I have been moved by the discussion we have heard on the Norwalk Museum." He said he supported keeping the museum open as it "houses the soul of the community in which it lies."
The impassioned pleas had an impact. After most members of the audience left, council members looked for ways to save the museum. "It's a big issue with a small amount of money, and we could probably save it," said Democrat Bruce Kimmel, who isn't a member of the committee and who could not cast a vote.
Numbers were bandied about, as Hilliard and Democrat Matt Miklave wondered how much various percentage hikes would cost citizens.
Tempers flared late in the meeting when Republican Doug Hempstead suggested that Democratic members go to the Capitol and petition Gov. Dannel Malloy to send more money to Norwalk for education. Democrat David Watts countered that the Republican house leader lives in Norwalk and hadn't done anything to change the formula.
Hempstead finally made a motion to raise property taxes by 1.9 percent. The three Republicans on the committee voted for it, but the four Democrats voted against it.
Miklave made a motion to increase taxes 3.8 percent, the city's recommendation, even though he was against it.
No one voted for it.
"We've got 1.9 percent, 3.8 percent, 6 percent," said freshman Democrat Warren Pena. "We have to find a happy medium." He made a motion for 2.8 percent. That failed as well.
After a recess, Hilliard said he was ending the meeting and making a recommendation in the morning. Hempstead protested. "It has to go in tomorrow morning. I think as a committee man I deserve to know what's going in."
"If the committee is deferring to the chair to submit it we still need some numbers to put in," Hamilton said.
"I've been on the council, I know," Hilliard said. "I don't have to do that tonight. You can call me tomorrow."
Hilliard had said during the meeting, "We have to educate our kids, we have to prepare them for the best ... I think we have to make the tough choice to spend the money and fully educate our kids. That's a fundamental thing that governments do."
He predicts the council, which has a Democratic majority, will vote for the higher cap.
"I think people will wake up," he said. "I think the Democrats will go for it."
Pena said by email that he disagrees. He made the motion for a 2.8 percent increase "because I believe that we will end up somewhere in that range and that it's a fair number relative to what came out of discussion in the meeting. I would love to give the BOE everything but also need to be sensitive to the increase in taxes and the ordinary taxpayer."
Comments (9)
There is good reason I use the "OLD TIMER" name. I have been around a very long time and have almost never heard of taxes going down or even holding at one rate for several years. One exception, Jasper McLevy in Bpt got rid of privatized garbage collection, instituted city employee collection, saving hundreds of thousands, lowered taxes, and was re-elected 11 times. His nephew, Irv Freeze in Norwalk, tried hard, was not re-elected 11 times, and was in office four years. I am thinking about local, state and federal taxes. There have been changes in federal taxes that cut rates for some people, but nobody ever said federal spending went down. Near as most of us can tell, some people got a break, federal spending went up anyway and we owe beyond my comprehension. Everybody campaigns on the idea the prior administration spent too much and then proceed to spend more. Reagan campaigned on how terrible a trillion dollar national debt was and it tripled under his administration. We all know the dollar does not buy as much as it did years ago. I get really tired of the political theater we see every year. Everybody (almost) favors being good stewards of our money and things happen that make no sense to simple taxpayers. Our local administration fights over nickels and dimes and supports boondogles like more work on Rowayton ave, because most of the money comes from the state. Where do they think the state gets money ? We borrow money (issue bonds) for capital projects we don't understand. A big part(millions) of the budget they are working on now is interest on that money. Nobody wants services cut, but we are spending beyond our means and we still ask why taxes don't go down. It isn't really complicated. Just like in our homes. Set a budget well below last year, including a contingency fund, and live within that budget. Some jobs will be lost, some services reduced, and the politicians will wonder who will not be re-elected because services very important to some voters have been reduced. It can be done, but is not likely anytime soon. For now we are told the best they can save on is privatizing garbage collection. Didn't Bridgeport save by getting rid of privatization ?
I keep within my personal budget because I am held accountable at the end of the day. Why are politicians not held accountable. They just ask for more. When do the tax payers get more?
This is ridiculous really. People are still hurting and many are right on the edge. Already. Bad enough no govt big or small seems capable of ever managing to spend LESS, they are always crying for a need for MORE regardless of the financial reality in the real world. Its not about republican & democrat & we/they need to stop playing games with our lives & the quality of those lives. Its not hard to point out millions spent in recent years on frivolous things in this city and its still hapenning, yet we cant educate our kids without increasing taxes? Stop pissing money away.
lwitherspoon, if you wanted to know the budget, im sure the blog sites is not the best place to find it.
Im also thinking that yes, education is imperative, the most important. but its also something we should look at, like budget specific, salary etc. WE SHOULD NOT JUST WRITE THIS OFF and say, "the education budget should get whatever they ask for," its time to look at this with a microscope and the democratic councilman above is looking to just throw money at it...bad idea.
6% is HUGE. Why not something more in the middle...
Maybe an example to help would be, look at how much police get paid (if 30-60% of $$ is going to overtime work, that needs to be fixed and can be).
Basically, we should look at ways to cut back rather than simply retax at this amount...2.8% is something that councilman pena attempted to throw out there, good idea, why? because it can pass in the council as well as be a good number to work towards (IE look at other things to cut before education and before raising taxes 6%).
If this works out, then maybe we find some extra money and then we may be able to lower the rate.
Old Timer -
I support public education too, but Joe Taxpayer has taken a beating over the past several years and it's not fair to ask him to sacrifice even more of his paycheck if there is not sacrifice by all parties involved. By all parties involved, I mean public employees accepting that if wages have to stay at current levels or go higher as per existing contracts, then there isn't enough money for the government to employ as many people, and therefore government will have to provide slightly less by way of services to the general public.
I guess we have different perspectives on this issue. When you say to me that taxes have to go up because everything costs more and the dollar is shrinking, that sounds to me like a reason why taxes should NOT go up. Joe Taxpayer is already struggling with the higher cost of basic necessities, so we should try twice as hard NOT to burden him further with higher taxes. Or at least let Joe Taxpayer vote on the issue for himself - does he want to pay an extra $300 per year in taxes or does he want to accept a slightly lower level of government services?
I haven't studied the garbage collection issue in detail, but I'm not surprised that union members are arguing that privatization won't save money. Union members benefit personally from the existing arrangement, so they're fighting to protect their union jobs. What we as taxpayers need is someone fighting equally hard to get us essential services at the lowest possible price, and it doesn't feel like the Republicans OR Democrats are doing that. Whatever happens with garbage collection, the great thing is that if they do privatize and there are no savings, you'll have a great issue to use against Moccia during the next election. I don't accept that we can't privatize because down the road there MIGHT be kickbacks. By that logic, unions should be banned, because in the past there have been corrupt union leaders who received kickbacks and stole from pension funds, and the same thing MIGHT happen again. To be clear, I am not in favor of banning unions, I'm just pointing out that it's the same flawed logic. A public, transparent tender process can ensure that the contract is awarded fairly and if none of the offers produce savings, there is always the option to go back to the old way of collecting garbage.
I am still waiting for somebody to explain why nobody on the Common Council is arguing for ZERO tax increase.
here we go again, it will never change. education is the issue now, and the only soultion is to raise taxes. Education is a big issue and it will always be a big one. so we should think about all the schools in Norwalk, epecially the Magnet School, they only take a few chosen ones, out of district students and so forthe, while we have to bus all the children that live in that same district to other schools. all I would like to know how much does it cost to do this? Now if we can start some where to cut a few things this taxe issue would not be that bad, cause the next step is all employees working for the department of education. I can go on and on but no one on that committe is going to listen.
Goverment just loves to spend and spend, those that pay taxes are the ones who are going to get hit.
The public should just ask who on all of these committe have there taxes paid up to date?
If you are in public office you should be the first to have your taxes paid in FULL. if not you should do the right thing, either pay them or just step down. I also hope everyone lives in Norwalk also.
What has Rep Cafero (the GOP House Leader) done to change the ECS formula? He has been a constant voice for change, that is what. Here are some links to news stories.
Number 1: http://bit.ly/xXGHow
Number 2...http://bit.ly/zcNo61
As early as 2001...http://bit.ly/xixXFW
Don't trash Rep Cafero until you can tell me something Sen Duff has done.
Carvin is right, education is the equalizer, needs to be supported and we are cutting out money for head start. Unfortunately, he has been manuevered into the position where the Republicans will turn on him and, once again, claim the Democrats are the tax and spend party and the Republicans are the good guys trying to keep tax increases down. 5.5% figures out to a lot of money for homeowners. 3.8% is also a lot, and the difference is not much. Both sides are proposing big increases.
Privatizing garbage collection is a terrible idea. I wonder where Hamilton, Alvord, and Moccia are getting their numbers. Have they already made a back room deal with a private contractor ? Privatizing will not save us anything but provides ample opportunity for kickbacks. Too many government officials have fallen into that trap already.
The real reason nobody talks zero tax increase is the dollar is shrinking. Everything costs more.
I am troubled by the fact that both the Democrats and the Republicans intend to raise our taxes, and the only disagreement is over how much they want to raise them. Before there is any talk of raising taxes, there should be a clear explanation of exactly why it's impossible for city government to survive on the same amount of money this year as it did last year. Why does there have to be ANY increase? Most taxpayers are not seeing salary increases, so the tax increase means that taxpayers will have less to save or spend on themselves or their families.
I would like to know what sort of budget is possible with ZERO tax increase, and I would like every member of the Common Council to go on record and explain why he or she is not advocating for a zero tax increase budget.