The Pension Fund: How We Got Here

Underfunding has been cited as one reason the town's Pension Fund is so drastically low. 

Several years ago Hamden Daily News Editor Sharon Bass took a look at pension contributions over time. Here's what she found, with more recent data added.

The recommended number is the amount the mayor recommended to the Legislative Council; the funded number is the amount the council approved.

1979-80: Mayor Lucien Dimeo (R), recommended $1.02 million; funded $1.02 million

1980-81: Mayor Dick Harris (D), recommended $1.24 million; funded $1.24 million

1981-82: Mayor Dick Harris (D), recommended $1.4 million; funded  $1.4 million.

1982-83: Mayor Peter Villano (D), recommended $1.75 million, funded $1.75 million.       

1983-84: Mayor Peter Villano(D), recommended $2.14 million, funded $2.28 million. 

1984-85: Mayor Peter Villano (D), recommended $2.65 million, funded $2.65 million.

1985-86: Mayor Peter Villano (D), recommended $2.9 million, funded $2.9 million. 

1986-87: Mayor John DeNicola Jr. (R), recommended $3 million, funded $3 million. 

1987-88: Mayor John DeNicola Jr. (R), recommended $3.78 million, funded $3.78 million.  

1988-89: Mayor John Carusone (D), recommended $4.37 million, funded $4.37 million.   

1989-90: Mayor John Carusone (D), recommended $4.75 million, funded $4.5 million.  

1990-91: Mayor John Carusone (D), recommended $4.77 million, funded $4.27 million. 

1991-92: Mayor John Carusone (D), recommended $4.27 million, funded $4.27 million. 

1992-93: Mayor Lillian Clayman (D), recommended $4.27 million, funded $4.27 million. 

1993-94: Mayor Lillian Clayman (D), recommended $4.27 million, funded $4.27 million. 

1994-95: Mayor Lillian Clayman (D), recommended $4.27 million, funded $4.27 million.     

1995-96: Mayor Lillian Clayman (D), recommended $4.5 million, funded $4.25 million. 

1996-97: Mayor Lillian Clayman (D), recommended $4.5 million, funded $4.5 million. 

1997-98: Mayor Lillian Clayman (D), recommended $4 million, funded $4 million.  

1998-99: Mayor Barbara DeNicola (R), recommended $4.4 million, funded $1.75 million.  

1999-2000: Mayor Barbara DeNicola (R), recommended $1.5 million, funded $0.

2000-01: Mayor Carl Amento, (D), recommended $0, funded $0.   

2001-02: Mayor Carl Amento, (D), recommended $250,000, funded $0. 

2002-03: Mayor Carl Amento, (D), recommended $500,000, funded $500,000.

2003-04: Mayor Carl Amento, (D), recommended $1 million, funded $1 million.

2004-05: Mayor Carl Amento, (D), recommended $3 million, funded $3 million.

2005-06: Mayor Carl Amento, (D), recommended $6 million, funded $6 million.

2006-07: Mayor Craig Henrici, (D), recommended $9 million, funded $9 million.

2007-08: Mayor Craig Henrici, (D), recommended $12 million, funded $12 million.      

2008-09: Mayor Craig Henrici, (D), recommended $13.5 million, funded $12.6 million. 
                     
2009-10: Mayor Craig Henrici, (D), recommended $12.75 million, funded $12.75 million. 

2010-11: Mayor Scott Jackson (D), recommended $7.35 million, funded $6.9 million. 

2011-12: Mayor Scott Jackson (D), recommended $3.685 million, funded $3.670 million.

2012-13: Mayor Scott Jackson (D), recommended $9.3 million, funded $9.34 million.

2013-14: Mayor Scott Jackson (D), recommended $12 million, funded $12 million.