New Haven Mayor Elicker Submits Proposed 2025-2026 City $703M Budget

NEW HAVEN, CT —Mayor Justin Elicker released his proposed city budget for fiscal year 2025-26. The $703.7 million budget represents an increase of 3.6 percent, or $24.6 million, from the previous year’s budget. Complementing the General Fund budget, Elicker is also submitted a proposed Capital Budget of $60 million and Special Revenue Funds budget of $62.6 million.

"At a time of tremendous uncertainty, confusion, and chaos coming from Washington, D.C. with threats of federal funding freezes in the current budget year and the potential for draconian cuts in the coming year, we’re committed to continuing to chart a different course in New Haven," Elicker said. "We will have a local government that is professional, predictable, and reliable and a city budget that is responsible, provides uninterrupted services to residents, supports our most vulnerable residents, treats our city employees with dignity, respect, and gratitude for the work they do, and meets our financial obligations as a city."

According to a news release from the Mayor's office, in recent years, Elicker and the Board of Alders have expanded city services and programs related to public safety, housing, education, youth programming and employment, parks, and transportation, among other areas.

For FY25-26, Elicker is proposing a budget that maintains the current level of city services across departments and covers rising fixed costs, while refraining from significant new financial commitments given the uncertainty surrounding federal funds."

"People want and deserve a government that provides peace of mind and that they know they can rely on to deliver the day-to-day services that they need to go about their lives," Elicker was quoted as saying. "Building on the progress we’ve made over the past five years, we’re committed to doing everything within our power to maintain a high level of city services and high quality of life for our residents."

Budget highlights include:

• Public Safety: Underwriting the newly adopted police contract that will help retain existing officers, attract and recruit new officers, and strengthen the ranks of the department.

• Education: Allocating an additional $1.5 million of American Rescue Plan funds to continue the New Haven Tutoring Initiative (which provides afterschool and summer tutoring in reading and math to struggling students) and $15 million in the Capital Budget for school building and facility improvements.

• Growth-focused positions: Proposing thirteen new full-time positions across seven different departments to help manage the city’s growth, development, and infrastructure needs. These positions – spanning the Office of Building Inspection & Enforcement, Community Resilience Department, Engineering Department, Economic Development Administration, Finance Department, Parks Department, and Transportation, Traffic, & Parking Department – total approximately $1 million in costs and are partially offset through a projected $402,000 in revenue generation. There are currently 1,427 full-time municipal employee positions.

Here is the full, proposed budget, all 532 pages of it.

According to Elicker, to meet these obligations, the budget proposes a 0.9 mill rate increase or 2.3 percent, increasing the mill rate from 38.50 to 39.40. Except for the previous two years, this represents the lowest tax rate residents would have over the course of two decades.

"New Haven’s tax rate remains lower than many other Connecticut municipalities, including those of similar size, such as Bridgeport, Hartford, and Waterbury, and those in the area, such as Hamden and West Haven," the news release reads.

The proposed FY 2025-26 budget builds on five consecutive years of balanced budgets and budget surpluses by the Elicker Administration, which has resulted in approximately $50 million in budget reserve funds and bond rating upgrades by independent financial rating agencies, according to the Mayor.

Watch the full news briefing on the budget here:

The budget was submitted Friday to the New Haven Board of Alders for review and consideration, and the Finance Committee will be holding a series of budget workshops, public hearings, and deliberations in March, April, and May.

The currently scheduled dates can be found at bit.ly/BOABudgetHearingSchedule2025 and will be posted on a rolling basis on the Board of Alders webpage at newhavenct.gov/alders. These meetings can be attended in-person and will also be streamed on the Board of Alders YouTube page at youtube.com/@boardofalders8363.

In the coming weeks, Elicker will hold budget town halls for residents to learn more about the budget, ask questions, and provide input and feedback on the proposals. The first is March 18 at 6 p.m. and the second is March 26. Locations to be announced.

"I look forward to engaging with the Board of Alders and city residents in passing a budget that reflects our values, delivers for New Haveners, and supports our continued growth as a city," Elicker said.

Per the City Charter, a final budget must be approved by the Board of Alders by the first Monday in June, which is June 2.

Here is the full, proposed budget, all 532 pages of it.