Bridgeport Taxpayers Revolt
Taxpayers in Bridgeport got their chance to vent at Mayor Ganim and their City Council representatives last night at a packed City Council meeting. Citizens, especially those in wealthier areas of town, have been outraged in the 29% increase in the mil rate, primarily due to a long-delayed revaluation and the general poor state of Bridgeport finances. Ganim was in a difficult situation with a larger than expected budget deficit inherited from Bill Finch, the revaluation, and reduced aid from Hartford all contributing to put a further squeeze on the perpetually stressed city finances. But, as candidate who ran on a pledge to “Stop Raising Taxes”, he can hardly be surprised by outraged citizens accusing him of betrayal.
City Council members, who acted as a rubber stamp for the new budget and mil rate, also bore the brunt of criticism and it would seem that a number of those members will have a very difficult time getting re-elected. City Council President Tom McCarthy chances in a State Senate race against Marilyn Moore may also be permanently damaged.
But, after all the sturm and drang, what can and will be accomplished. I have to say I am adamantly opposed to Dave Walker’s idea of a financial control board. This is equivalent to saying the situation is so bad that we need a dictator. It is anti-democratic and a recipe for real unrest. We can always vote these bums out, but you can’t vote out a financial control board. They will make unilateral decisions and those decisions will not be made with any understanding of the local community.
Black Rock residents talk of seceding from Bridgeport into Fairfield but it is doubtful whether that can be done unilaterally and unclear whether Fairfield would also be willing. There is also talk of withholding taxes, but that would just mean more cuts in services and hurt the least among us even more, creating an even greater rift between the haves and have-nots in the town.
It will be interesting to see what happens at future City Council meetings and whether citizens will stay engaged. If everyone just disappears after venting once, then nothing will change. It is sad to say, but it will take all of us staying engaged in order to turn things around. That means showing up at City Council meetings, understanding the issues the city has with pensions and salaries, and staying informed and involved. It will not be easy and it will take a long time. But it is the only way forward.