Hartford mayor proposes budget to hold tax rate steady as schools face $74.5 million shortfall

Mayor Alam presented his recommended 2026 budget to the Hartford City Council on April 1, proposing no increase to the city's property tax rate and a roughly 1% increase in overall spending while warning of growing pressures on city services and the school system.

The mayor told the council the administration had trimmed spending and frozen roughly half of open positions to avoid a tax hike, saying the proposal maintains the property tax rate at 68.9 mills and funds negotiated wage increases for public works and firefighters. "Through a number of cuts within our budget and by freezing about half of the open positions at city hall, we've been able to maintain our property tax rate 68.9 mills and hold spending to just 1% increase," Mayor Alam said in his presentation.

He outlined a mix of revenue and cost changes that shaped the recommendation: a flat grand list, lower interest income, new Medicaid billing revenue the city began collecting, reduced parking authority transfers because of deferred maintenance, and an anticipated $2.5 million debt-service payment tied to planned borrowing now feasible after a recent A-minus credit upgrade. The administration said new bonding authority would allow multi-year investments in roads, sidewalks and public facilities after years of underinvestment.

At the same time, Mayor Alam described Hartford Public Schools' fiscal situation as urgent. He said the district faces about a $74.5 million structural deficit over the coming budget cycle and called for significant state involvement to address the shortfall. "We can't afford to cut any more teachers or para educators," he said, urging the state to make a major investment and signaling the city may need to accept some tax increases if the state contribution is insufficient.

The mayor also highlighted capital priorities the budget contemplates, including reopening the Blue Hills Recreation Center and funding for public works equipment replacements; he noted many DPW vehicles and pieces of equipment were past useful life. He recommended continuing some targeted investments while preserving affordability for residents.

Public comment that followed focused overwhelmingly on schools. Parents, teachers, principals and students described cuts to advanced-placement courses, loss of librarians and tutors, broken and closed bathrooms, mold and pests in some buildings, and staffing reductions that have left teachers to shoulder multiple roles. A string of speakers urged the council to use available reserves and discretionary funds to shore up school operations and building repairs and to press the state for increased education funding.

Teachers cited programmatic losses that include language and science instruction and said classroom supplies and tutoring positions have been lost to repeated cuts. Students also testified about facility problems and asked the city and state to invest in neighborhood schools. Several speakers urged protecting planned school reconstruction and using capital funds or rainy-day reserves to address what they called an education emergency.

The mayor's recommended budget begins the council's review process; departmental hearings are scheduled to start the week of April 6 and a second public hearing is set for April 28 at 6 p.m. at Weaver High School. Council members will review line items, hear departmental testimony and may propose amendments before the council votes on a final budget in May.