List of Demands
Rhonda Caldwell's Sustainable Fiscal Management Plan
This plan was put together by District 5 Councilwoman Rhonda Caldwell. These ideas are what you should consider asking your council representatives to consider as budget deliberations begin.
Short-Term Assumptions (Next 3-6 Months)
Revaluation Pause Approval: Request approval from the State of Connecticut to pause the implementation of the revaluation until FY27, with the potential for a 5-year phase-in. Phase-in plan to be presented to the Council in 2026 with appropriate forecasting models.
Deadline: April 30th.
Finance Director Search: Begin national search for a new Finance Director with municipal experience. Ensure hire is in place by May 15th, working through the Civil Service Commission.
External Financial Consulting: Hire Michael Milone and team to work with the new Finance Director and Mayor’s team to bring all financial statements current. Contract to be finalized by May 15th.
Third-Party CPA Engagement: Hire a 3rd-party CPA firm to assist the Deputy Finance Director with the FY24 audit and necessary documentation. Contractor in place by May 31st.
FY24 Audit Completion: Complete the FY24 audit by July 1st, 2025.
Surplus Allocation: Apply all FY24 surplus to offset approved FY26 budget expenditures, including contractual salaries.
Capital Bonding Freeze: No new capital bonding for the FY26 budget. Capital projects must be completed with current surplus from previous projects that came in under budget.
ARPA Funds Usage: Redirect all available ARPA funds to pay for town operations and salaries, utilizing generated surplus.
Charter and Financial Reports: Ensure that all charter-required financial and program reports are submitted by May 28th, 2025.
Long-Term Assumptions (Next 12-18 Months)
Pension Obligation Bond (POB) Projections: Obtain cash requirement projections for the newly commissioned Pension Obligation Bond (POB) through 2045. Explore refinancing options to stretch debt beyond 2045.
Town Contracts Negotiation: Immediately begin negotiations for all town contracts, including police and fire. Address issues with the current CMERS retirement system, which includes overtime in retirement calculations.
General Obligation Bonds Refinancing: Work with the State delegation to explore options for refinancing Hamden’s General Obligation Bonds (GOB) to reduce $31 million in debt service.
Medical Insurance Costs: Investigate the rising costs of medical insurance, which is the second-highest cost center in the town’s budget, and identify solutions for cost reduction.
Budget Capping Measures: Cap all raises, hiring, and provide zero funding for vacant positions, with specific conditions to be reviewed.
Grant Transparency: Ensure that all grant funds, including the $450K in annual HUD-CDBG funds, are listed separately in future revenue sections of the budget and monthly financial statements.
This comprehensive plan outlines both immediate actions and long-term strategies to address the financial health of the town, with a focus on transparency, careful expenditure management, and strategic adjustments to revenue sources and expenses.
How This Affects Your Taxes:
For this year, the plan utilizes the current grant list at a 55.61 mill rate and proposes pausing the implementation of property revaluation (reval) until FY27. By delaying the revaluation, taxes would remain essentially the same for now, preventing any immediate changes to tax assessments.
✖️Calculate Your 2025-2026 Taxes
Use this cool tool, created by Hamden residents Edward Lee and Luke Sanford.
Take Action Now
🧭 Attend Budget Deliberations
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📰 Stay in the Loop
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📣 Contact Your Council Members
Hold your representatives accountable. If you’re unsure who represents you, locate your district on the map below, then scroll down for the full list of email addresses.
At-Large Council Members:
Dominique Baez (D) – Council President
Phone: (203) 927-2755
Email: Dominique Baez
Bob Anthony (R)
Phone: (203) 641-6442
Email: Bob Anthony
Tom Figlar (R)
Phone: (203) 339-2471
Email: Tom Figlar
Tasha Hunt (D)
Phone: (203) 800-2142
Email: Tasha Hunt
Katie Kiely (D)
Phone: (203) 464-6915
Email: Katie Kiely
Laurie Sweet (D)
Phone: (475) 441-6441
Email: Laurie Sweet
District Council Members:
District 1: Sean Cardwell (D)
Phone: (475) 441-8251
Email: Sean Cardwell
District 2: Jeron Alston (D)
Phone: (203) 529-5519
Email: Jeron Alston
District 3: Abdul Osmanu (D)
Phone: (203) 343-0781
Email: Abdul Osmanu
District 4: Sarah Gallagher (D)
Phone: (860) 530-7808
Email: Sarah Gallagher
District 5: Rhonda Caldwell (D)
Phone: (475) 316-2031
Email: Rhonda Caldwell
District 7: Adrian Webber (D)
Phone: (213) 973-2203
Email: Adrian Webber
District 8: Ted Stevens (D)
Phone: (203) 464-1154
Email: Ted Stevens
District 9: Jim Anthony (R)
Phone: (475) 318-6789
Email: Jim Anthony