Recently property owners received their tax bill for the fiscal year that began July 1, 2007. Revenues from these bills will support the budget that was enacted by the Boards following reductions they made to the budget I originally presented. My budget maintained all City services at the levels they had been provided to residents in the past. However, given the revaluation of property reflecting the 2006 values, the Boards of Finance and Representatives enacted a significantly reduced budget.
This budget year was difficult for all of us within City government: department managers, elected officials and the members of my administration. Our basic focus was to balance the changes brought about by the revaluation of property values and the budgetary needs to maintain Stamford’s tradition of delivering high levels of services to our citizens. Decisions were made by the elected boards that culminated in the elimination of $5.1 million from the Superintendent of Schools proposed education budget and $7.1 million from what I had proposed for government operations. This action resulted in a net increase of 2.7% for education and 2.6% for government operations.
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