Residents urge scrutiny of fixed costs and call for cuts at Waterbury budget hearing

Waterbury's Board of Aldermen held a special meeting May 28 for the second public hearing on Mayor Paul K. Peruski Jr.'s proposed FY2026-27 budget, hearing two residents who urged closer scrutiny of fixed costs and suggested both service cuts and administrative reforms.

Paul Condash, who identified himself as a city resident of 413 Harper's Ferry Road, told the board that the budget is driven by fixed costs and the administration's choices about services. "The budget is not about a dollar amount. It's about the administration and any administration the services they wish to provide," Condash said. He described fixed costs he estimated at about $421 million and said that roughly $37 million remained for discretionary items, arguing that sustained increases in fixed costs force higher taxes unless the city cuts services or expands the grand list.

Condash asked the board to probe specific areas, including whether municipal golf courses or the Palace Theater were straining the budget, whether the city relies too heavily on outside consultants, and whether corporation counsel arrangements could be overhauled to reduce outside legal fees. He also proposed that the Board of Aldermen receive a salary set at 10% of the mayor's pay, which he estimated would raise total alderman compensation by less than $200,000 for all 15 seats; he said any such change would need voter approval on the ballot and would take effect in the next term.

Martin Spring, the second speaker, described growing economic pressure on Waterbury households and urged line-by-line cuts where possible. Spring said he attended multiple departmental budget meetings and singled out education costs and contracted positions for review. He referenced a school project he described as a roughly $100 million effort and said a Board of Education representative estimated the city's share at about $6–8 million; Spring urged consideration of reopening union contracts and evaluating pension ages to control long-term costs.

The hearing included procedural reminders from the presiding officer that the budget adoption vote is scheduled for June 2 at 6 p.m.; the president also said two items (11 and 14) had inadvertently been omitted at the May 26 meeting and would be taken up at a brief meeting on June 2. After announcements and a short exchange, Alderman Mosley moved to adjourn; Alderman Blake seconded, the body voiced its approval, and the meeting was adjourned.

No formal votes on the budget were recorded at the May 28 hearing. The board will consider public comments as it prepares for the June 2 adoption vote.