Hartford council approves $654.5 million FY27 budget, raises mill rate by 1 mill

The Hartford City Council on Tuesday voted to adopt the city’s fiscal year 2027 budget package, approving a $654,489,424 general fund appropriation and a 1-mill increase in the real-estate tax levy to 69.95 mills.

The action completed the council’s budget deliberations after several amendments and nonfinancial measures were approved in succession. Council members also passed an ordinance authorizing about $12.37 million in capital improvement project appropriations for planning, design, acquisition and construction of public improvements and equipment.

Why it matters: the package combines a large operating budget with targeted increases the council said will expand education funding and other local programs, and it relies in part on a 1-mill property tax increase to pay for some of those additions.

The council approved several budget amendments before taking up the general fund appropriation. One amendment — adopted earlier in the session — shifted modest sums among contingency, Hartford Decides and youth sports accounts. A larger amendment approved by roll call increased pension funding by $1,607,801 and added roughly $15.53 million to education accounts; council members also set aside conditional funding of up to $2 million that would become available to the Board of Education if it applies for a state fiscal intervention and oversight plan under section 388 of the adopted state budget.

On the tax levy, the ordinance raising the mill rate by 1 mill was introduced and approved without extended debate. The clerk called the roll and the measure carried with all present voting yes.

During discussion of the capital ordinance, one council member flagged duplicate funding for a police firing range in earlier drafts and noted that money had been reallocated to splash pads in the current version of the CIP. After that clarification the council voted to approve the CIP appropriations.

Council President Clark closed the session, thanking council staff, the mayor’s office and the budget office for their work concluding the deliberations and noting the council’s focus on increasing resources for students in Hartford Public Schools.

What’s next: the ordinances and appropriations take effect according to the city’s standard implementation timeline; council members said they expect additional work between the city and the Board of Education on the conditional funds tied to a state intervention application.

Quote: “This does conclude our budget deliberations… I would like to thank everyone for their tireless efforts,” Council President Clark said at adjournment.

Votes at a glance: the roll calls recorded in the meeting transcript show the council approved each budget and ordinance measure on affirmative roll call, with the clerk announcing the motions carried.