Committee reviews FY2026–27 budget proposals; refers general fund, special revenue and CIP to council

The New Britain Planning, Zoning and Housing Committee on May 5 reviewed proposed budgets for fiscal year 2026–27 and voted to refer several items to the full City Council with neutral recommendations.

Chairman Simpson introduced item 371,339, the proposed general fund budget, and department heads presented highlights and answered questions. Police Chief Marino said the department’s request rose slightly after discussions with the mayor’s office and accounting for reimbursed overtime and contractual items; he told the committee that increases are largely contractual and noted an increase in JAG funding that will allow reallocation "towards proactive policing and traffic work." "We're not asking for anything more," Marino said.

Fire Chief Ortiz outlined his department’s revised budget and emphasized a realistic estimate for overtime costs linked to contractual wage increases. Ortiz told the committee the department currently has 11 vacancies and said he expects those positions can be filled by July through a mix of lateral transfers and hires, which he said will shorten training time and reduce budget strain. "We currently have 11," Ortiz said when asked how many vacancies exist. He also described line-item reductions in training and conferences and said department leaders will monitor burn rates with finance.

Building Department Director Mike Nomack said he submitted a modest budget that accounts for recent hiring of two inspectors and modest increases in full-time salaries; Nomack said he would verify a noted jump in equipment/maintenance because some maintenance costs were reallocated across departments. Health Director Veil Coles reported a slight increase driven largely by contractual salary changes and said vehicle fuel and equipment allocations had been shifted back to public works.

Support Services Director John Delgadillo described three divisions (facilities and energy, IT, and public safety telecommunications including 911 dispatch) and said staffing for the 911 center remains a priority; he said the department is closer than ever to fully staffing the center but that FMLA and turnover remain challenges.

Mallory Dupree, recreation and community services director, listed performance and revenue figures for the prior year including 26,423 pool visits, 21,000 splash-pad visits, 220 children who learned to swim, about 350 seasonal staff with 86% from New Britain, and $1,000,000 returned to seniors and disabled residents through the renters rebate program. Dupree said the department will launch a kindergarten camp and a Rose Garden series of events and described how donation trust funds are used for site-specific needs such as cemetery security cameras.

Justin Dorsey of the Planning and Development Department summarized planning, economic development and grant-funded community development work and said the department anticipates a $6,000,000 LEAD grant contract over the next four years to support lead-hazard remediation and housing rehabilitation; CDBG and HOME funds were cited as federal sources that fund new construction and home-ownership programs.

Alderman Santiago moved to refer item 371,339 (the general fund budget) to the full council with a neutral recommendation; Alderman Centeno seconded and the motion passed by voice vote. The committee also voted to refer the special revenue and enterprise funds budget (item 371,401) and the capital improvement program/LOSIP (item 37,141) to the council with neutral recommendations.

Next steps: referred items and the City Plan Commission records will be forwarded to the full City Council for public meetings and final votes. Committee members indicated they expect additional monitoring of vacancy fills, overtime burn rates and the planned uses of grant dollars as those items move through the council process.