After following the budget process and the recent Budget Hearings, I feel less and less comfortable about the direction our dishonorable Mayor Eddie A. Perez is taking us.
To hear city department heads and Hartford's Chief Operating Officer Lee Erdmann speak, it is almost scary to hear the large percentage of the budget that is being based on the potential receipt of stimulus money. Stimulus money that is far from guaranteed, and the majority of which will be based on a competitive grant application process.A prime example is the fact that although King Eddie promised hiring large numbers of Police Officers to get to the 500 officers Chief Robert's wants, it now appears that this was an empty election year promise. As of this date, no money is in the upcoming General Fund budget for the hiring of Police Officers. According to Perez and Erdmann, officers will be hired using stimulus money. If and when the money is approved, which could be never. Some of the "games" that Perez plans to play with the stimulus money could also jeopardize the money and put all stimulus funds at risk. A prime example is the video clip below where Erdmann testifies at a Council budget hearing that one of the item's being discussed is laying off Police and Firefighters and then hiring them back with stimulus money. Although Erdmann stated this on the record, today Perez responded to a reporters question during an interview and stated the total opposite. When asked about Erdmann's plans to potentially hire back laid off employees with stimulus money, Perez responded "that is not possible. This notion that we could supplant. I think everybody understands that we can't supplant. I provided an opportunity for us to apply for a grant. We can't put the grant at jeopardy by supplanting. It's not an option at all, you know, and again I haven't talked about cutting police and cutting fire. Those have been our priorities. I think anybody who talks about that needs to know that they're also putting the federal money at risk. You can't supplant. I think everybody understands that". Maybe Perez might want to speak with his Chief Operating Officer and get their message correct. Where is the Director of Miscommunication Sarah Barr?
Also, the third quarter budget report that was released last week has apparently now been recalled. I received mine at last weeks Council meeting, but other's I have spoke with have been told the book is not available because it is being reprinted to correct "mistakes". One of the biggest mistakes most likely is the fact that in Perez's letter to Council members, he actually admits that "the total year end deficit for FY 2008-09 could reach $27,205,792". A copy of the letter is below. There definitely won't be enough in the "Rainy Day Fund" to cover that deficit.
PEREZ'S LETTER TO THE COUNCIL:
3rd Quarter Budget Letter Highlighted
ERDMANN'S BUDGET TESTIMONY REGARDING POLICE AND FIRE LAYOFF IDEAS
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