There is a public hearing tonight in Danbury on the Mayor's proposed budget. Residents are being urged to attend the 7pm hearing at City Hall to discuss the budget and $3-million in proposed bonding.
Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton has proposed a budget for the coming fiscal year that includes a $7.5 million spending increase, or 3.3 percent. Much of the increase is due to health insurance costs. As of now, the proposed budget would not increase property taxes on 60-percent of residents. There is however a 19-percent hike in the mill rate because of the state-mandated reval.
City Council Minority Leader Tom Saadi says he hopes residents will attend the public hearing to voice their concerns or support for various proposals.
The budget plan includes $2.2 million for road repairs, funding for Still River dredging and patrol cars. 25 of the 56 vacant positions in city government will go unfilled to save $2-million in spending. Boughton is keeping a tax freeze in place for eligible seniors.
The sewer and water rates are not slated to increase.
The Education system will be getting an additional $3.1 million. That funding must be used, in part, to pay for school security measures and mental health care. All-day kindergarten, which was started in many elementary schools in the City, will be expanded to King Street Primary, Ellesworth Avenue and South Street Schools.
