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Hartford finance chief presents FY2026 budget, proposes tax-payment kiosks and staffing changes
Summary
CFO Lianne Rawls told the City Council’s budget hearing that the Finance Department seeks $4.727 million for FY2026, highlighted staffing turnover and vacancies, and proposed technology investments including a $24,000-per-year tax payment kiosk and an $8,000 annual e‑procurement increase.
Lianne Rawls, chief financial officer for Hartford, presented the Finance Department’s FY2026 recommended budget and described staffing, technology and collections initiatives at a City Council department budget hearing. The department’s FY2026 request for the finance function was listed in the presentation as $4,727,000, a 7.4% increase over FY2025.
Why it matters: The Finance Department manages tax collection, payroll and city contract compliance and oversees ARPA reporting and other federal grants. Changes to staffing, procurement software and taxpayer payment options affect city operations, vendor compliance and residents’ ability to pay taxes.
Rawls said the department has 51 full‑time positions and identified multiple vacancies. "With this budget, it is a total of 51 full time positions. Of those 51 positions, we have 5 vacancies. Actually, let me take that back. We have 4 vacancies... Totality, have 7 vacancies," she said, noting hires and pending acceptances to…
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