Decision on fire merger put off - New Haven Register

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Decision on fire merger put off

Joe McGurk, Register Staff

May 02, 2001

WEST HAVEN — Allingtown fire officials decided Tuesday to let their attorney handle consolidation issues — saying they are going to focus on keeping taxes down.

And, while a tax rate increase of less than one mill may be coming to Allingtown residents, the Allingtown Fire Department won’t be dissolved anytime soon, Commissioner Aaron Haley said.

"To consolidate, you have to have someone to consolidate with and no one wants us," Haley said. "I’m more than willing to consolidate citywide but we just can’t do it. Our job is to keep taxes low and keep our fire department running healthy, and we can do that."

Haley tried to console about 45 residents who turned out for the commission’s regular monthly meeting, after the residents hammered him with questions about the district budget and about a residents’ petition to terminate the district.

Haley closed the meeting, since the commission’s official policy is to not answer any questions as a body, and opened a free-for-all question and answer period.

He said the district budget would be released today and it would reflect a tax rate increase of 0.6 mills.

"We had to cut some expenses and reorganize some things," Haley said, noting that the budget will include money to hire three firefighters.

Haley also used the open session to explain his stance on consolidation.

"The majority of people don’t want consolidation. I want to consolidate, but I want to consolidate with the city. The city only wants to consolidate with three departments. Do I see it happening in the near future? No."

Haley expected the commission to take a vote to officiate his stance, but when panel members returned to the meeting, they voted to let their attorney handle residents’ call for consolidation.

Residents expected a tax increase, as the district lost $13 million in taxable property value in last year’s revaluation. The Allingtown Taxpayers Alliance, made up of residents who petitioned to have the department consolidate with another department, filed an intent to sue notice to block budget approvals, scheduled for Tuesday.

The Alliance hired an attorney to review whether the commission properly considered the petition. Members said Tuesday that they think tax bills would be lower if taxes from each district were pooled, which would be possible if Allingtown consolidated with another department.

Allingtown commissioners last February held a public hearing to discuss consolidation. Haley said the commission’s impression was that the majority of residents who attended didn’t want to consolidate.

West Haven has three separate fire departments, Allingtown, West Shore and the Center District. Each department has a commission that sets a tax rate.

Every resident is charged a city tax rate, this fiscal year it is 34.28 mills. West Shore residents pay another 7.0 mills, Allingtown residents pay 8.35 mills and Center district residents pay 8.15 mills. The other department’s budgets are under review by district residents.

Last year, the Allingtown commission proposed a $3.11 million budget and a 0.64 mill tax rate increase. Residents rejected it twice. Voters finally approved a $3 million budget and an 8.35 mill tax rate.

Resident Sandra Burns said, "there’s going to be a big fight. It’s (important) for people to come together and make their voices known on this issue."

Residents said they are concerned with the department’s budget, because commissioners were supposed to file a financial audit with the state Office of Policy and Management by last December. Commissioners received multiple extensions, the state office said Tuesday, but their last expired Tuesday afternoon, when they had not yet filed their audit.

Haley said the commission has yet to receive the audit.

Residents said they were not aware of what was to be discussed at the meeting, most assumed it was budget approvals, as the commission did not post an agenda, which is a violation of the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act. The Admiral Street headquarters, where the department’s business is conducted and where an agenda should have been posted 24 hours before the meeting, was locked all day Monday and Tuesday until 4 p.m.