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New Haven council approves $703.7 million operating budget after debate over $1.425 million for schools
Summary
The City Council approved a $703.7 million general fund operating budget for fiscal 2025–26. A proposed transfer of $1.425 million from the expenditure reserve to the Board of Education drew debate and failed on a roll call, after which the committee'approved amended budget items were adopted.
The New Haven City Council on a finance committee recommendation approved an amended $703,700,000 general fund operating budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, after committee changes and votes on several amendments.
The budget, introduced under Appropriating Ordinance No. 1, incorporates technical corrections to the mayor's original proposal and committee amendments that shifted a net $1,770,439 in surplus toward specific line items. Alder Marchand, chair of the Finance Committee, said the committee corrected errors that reduced expenditures by $3,195,439 and reduced revenues by $1,425,000, producing the surplus that the committee then allocated to departmental and program lines.
Why it matters: The operating budget funds city departments and services including pension payments, debt service, and day-to-day operations. The council's amendments affect neighborhood infrastructure, food assistance, and positions across departments and shape what services are funded in the coming year.
Most important facts: The finance committee applied $1,425,000 to an expenditure reserve and $345,439 to various organizations for food assistance (the Coordinated Food Assistance Network, CFAB). The committee also removed three positions (deputy controller and chief data officer among them) and reallocated savings to support neighborhood infrastructure and Haven's Harvest ($50,000) and $248,959 to the chief administrator's office for sidewalks and street repairs. The committee reported a final general fund budget figure of $703,700,000 for FY2026.
Council debate and Board of Education amendment: During full council consideration an amendment was offered to transfer $1,425,000 from the expenditure reserve into the Board of Education budget. Several council members urged caution, saying they lacked data on which positions or student-facing roles the funds would preserve. One speaker, identified in the meeting as the majority leader, described the proposed transfer as premature and called for a special caucus to obtain the Board of Education's detailed needs and staffing data before reallocating funds. Supporters, including a public commenter who identified themselves as a New Haven public school alumnus and recent Yale graduate, urged passage to address immediate school maintenance and staffing shortfalls.
The council conducted a roll call on the amendment. The transcript records multiple "no" responses during the roll call and the chair indicated the roll call would proceed; the amendment did not pass following that roll call. The council then proceeded with the main ordinance as amended by the finance committee.
Other clarifications and process notes: City staff and committee members credited Shannon McHugh, the new budget director, and fiscal analyst Don Hayden and Al Lucas, director of legislative services, for their roles in preparing materials for the committee. Alder Marchand and the finance committee held three public hearings and multiple workshops on the budget since March, according to the committee remarks.
Looking ahead: With the operating budget approved, the council also considered capital and other ordinances later in the meeting. Council members who opposed the BOE transfer said they remained committed to supporting schools but wanted specific deliverables from the Board of Education before reallocating additional funds.
