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The workforce reductions were achieved through attrition and early retirements, the statement said.
City Councilors approved a new mill rate of 54.37 for real estate and personal property taxes, while passing a 12 percent decrease in the mill rate for motor vehicle taxes to 37, pursuant to a state-mandated cap on auto taxes.
Despite the increase in the mill rate on real and personal property for Fiscal Year 2017 from the current level of 42.2, city officials estimate that nearly 65 percent of residential homeowners in Bridgeport will see flat or lower tax bills as a result of the recent property revaluation and the reduction in car taxes. That revaluation, based on 2015 numbers, reduced the Grand List of overall property values in Bridgeport by more than $1.1 billion.
“Since taking office I have had two major fiscal goals for the city of Bridgeport: erase a $20 million deficit left by the previous administration and reduce the tax burden on residential homeowners. This budget accomplishes both,” said Ganim. “I want to thank the diligent work of my staff and city councilors who poured over the details of this spending plan in a challenged fiscal environment for the last few months.
"We worked very hard to reduce expenditures to keep the tax burden as low as possible. The proposal we have enacted will allow the city to invest in public safety and replenish the ranks of the dangerously undermanned police department. With the state holding its commitment to reduce auto taxes and increase municipal aid, most residential homeowners in Bridgeport will see flat or lower overall tax bills in the next fiscal year.”
The adopted Fiscal Year 2017 budget provides level funding for the Bridgeport Board of Education, making up for more than $2.3 million cuts in education and school transportation funding from the state of Connecticut. The budget also includes spending cuts of nearly $7 million while fully funding pension and other obligations mandated by statute, which protects the city’s bond ratings.
The budget includes $4 million in additional spending reductions on personnel costs that Ganim hopes to achieve through concessions from city employee labor unions.
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