The Danbury City Council will be voting tonight on a budget proposal for the coming fiscal year.  The $257 million plan includes a slight decrease in the property tax rate.  Council members went over each line item in the budget and are mostly recommending that it be approved as is.  There was one recommendation they will discuss further. 

That's the $52,634 for the Ives Authority for the Performing Arts.  Councilman Ben Chianese proposed that the funding be moved to the contingency account until they get more information from the Authority on how they plan to use the money.  He is concerned with what is being received in return for the monies. 

Chianese noted that they haven't gotten financial statements from the Authority, but Finance Director David St. Hilaire responded that the group changed their fiscal year so the reports aren't in yet. 

Councilman Phil Curran said he's always had a problem with the Authority,  He says they don't account for anything, yet the City keeps giving them money. 

$132 million is proposed for the school district, a $4-million increase, but less than school officials requested to help deal with a continued growing enrollment. 

The proposal does include a 2.75 percent increase in water rates and sewer rates by 2.95 percent.  There are no new initiatives included in the plan.   While a hiring freeze will continue, there are no plans for new department layoffs.