In a city with a political pulse beyond the Democratic Party, this would be an issue. There are minor-party candidates running for mayor. But none have DeStefano’s experience or qualification.
Fortunately for New Haven, DeStefano has been an excellent mayor. He has handled well the difficult task of governing one of the state’s poorest cities. His administration has been fiscally responsible. In the past two years, it has cut 31 jobs. During his tenure, 283 municipal jobs have been cut from their peak number. The number of school jobs has increased by 43.
Thanks in part to the opening of Ikea, the value of the city’s taxable property increased by 2.4 percent last year, the biggest jump since 1989. The tax collection rate this year hit a record 98.27 percent. With some 42 percent of the city’s real estate tax exempt, the mayor has sought voluntary payments from nonprofit institutions.
But despite tax increases in each of the last four years, two bond rating agencies in March downgraded the city’s bond outlook to negative because of the city’s reliance on one-time revenue, its low budget reserve and inadequate payments to employee pension funds.
In reaction, the city approved a budget for this year with no one-time revenues and a 3-mill increase in the tax rate.
The city continues to chip away at the number of vacant structures while supporting new housing construction. Relying on state aid, the city has rebuilt roughly half of its schools, opening seven more since the start of 2004.
The city’s immediate future is full of promise. Yale-New Haven Hospital has announced a major addition. Gateway Community College will move to a downtown campus on what are now vacant blocks.
If anything, DeStefano’s dual campaigns for mayor and governor seems to have given his life at City Hall a greater spark. He should be re-elected. Fortunately for New Haven, DeStefano has been an excellent mayor. He has handled well the difficult task of governing one of the state’s poorest cities. His administration has been fiscally responsible. In the past two years, it has cut 31 jobs. During his tenure, 283 municipal jobs have been cut from their peak number. The number of school jobs has increased by 43.Thanks in part to the opening of Ikea, the value of the city’s taxable property increased by 2.4 percent last year, the biggest jump since 1989. The tax collection rate this year hit a record 98.27 percent. With some 42 percent of the city’s real estate tax exempt, the mayor has sought voluntary payments from nonprofit institutions.But despite tax increases in each of the last four years, two bond rating agencies in March downgraded the city’s bond outlook to negative because of the city’s reliance on one-time revenue, its low budget reserve and inadequate payments to employee pension funds.In reaction, the city approved a budget for this year with no one-time revenues and a 3-mill increase in the tax rate.The city continues to chip away at the number of vacant structures while supporting new housing construction. Relying on state aid, the city has rebuilt roughly half of its schools, opening seven more since the start of 2004.The city’s immediate future is full of promise. Yale-New Haven Hospital has announced a major addition. Gateway Community College will move to a downtown campus on what are now vacant blocks.If anything, DeStefano’s dual campaigns for mayor and governor seems to have given his life at City Hall a greater spark. He should be re-elected.