Council to Vote on Mayor's Budget Wednesday

The city's common council will consider the mayor's $137.85 million proposed budget Wednesday evening at city hall.

Property taxes would increase 3.3 percent under Middletown Mayor Dan Drew's suggested spending package, which would fund the school board at $75.55 million, an additional $3 million over last year. 

"Without the cost-cutting measures I mentioned tonight and in light of the economic pressures of the state budget, we would have had a 3 mil increase in our tax rate," Drew said on March 29.

"Instead, as a result of the major cuts we've made, the dozens of positions we've eliminated, and the bipartisan policy we've made I am proposing increasing the mil rate by nine-tenths of a percent."

A mill equals $1 for every $1,000 in assessed property values.

Last year, the Republicans presented an alternate budget to the common council, which was not approved. Among the items proposed were: 

• $600,000 added as a foundation for mandatory revaluation
• Office of Emergency Management received $13,929
• Adding a parks maintainer at an annually salary of $45,000
• A grants writer for half a year at $30,000
• The pension fund be funded at 100 percent
• The board of education budget be level funded

• Taxes Up 3.3 Percent in Mayor's $137.9M Budget Request
  
• GOP Caucus Presents Alternate Budget to Dems