Mayor pleased with Ansonia voters' support of budget reform

Mayor Cassetti

ANSONIA - Mayor David S. Cassetti today announced he is extremely pleased with the results of the referendum on Charter Revision, particularly with the passage of the responsible budget reform initiative. 

"As you know, the Ansonia Republicans have long championed the idea of holding elected officials accountable for setting the annual budget and tax rate," he said. "It's the basic principle of "no taxation without representation."

For decades the city has operated under a system where political appointees have the final say on those important decisions and the Mayor had no role in the process whatsoever.

Ansonia voters showed clear and overwhelming support for the Mayor's budget reform initiative Tuesday:  it passed 3,358 to 1,075.

For the first time in Ansonia's history, elected officials will be responsible for approving the annual budget and the Mayor will have the obligation to submit a "Mayor's Budget" to kick off the yearly budget process.

"This is a tremendous victory for the residents of Ansonia and supporters of accountability in government. It creates a strong system of checks and balances that will promote financial responsibility in the future," Cassetti said. 

"Ansonia voters should be credited with taking a giant-sized step towards modernizing their government and breaking from the ways of back-door politics and behind-the-scenes deals," said City Attorney John Marini.

Two additional Charter Revision measures passed.
The powers and duties of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen were clarified to create a stronger system of checks and balances in the area of personnel and employee management. 

Also, the Charter received its first ever general "clean up," which included the removal of provisions that conflict with state and federal law.
For example, the prohibition of campaigning by police officers was eliminated because it conflicts with the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. 

Only one Charter Revision question failed: a proposal to reduce the amount of wards and aldermen in the City. 

That proposal was suggested to the Charter Revision Commission by the bi-partisan registrar of voters Nancy Valentine (R) and Tom Maffeo (D).
It failed by a narrow margin, 2,248 to 2,199, indicating that voters were divided on the issue.  "It suggests that further discussion is needed on this issue," said Second Ward Aldermen Lorie Vaccaro.
"We want our residents to be comfortable with the direction the City is headed in."

"I am glad that voters had the opportunity to have their voices heard on these important changes to City government," Cassetti said.  "The great American tradition of self-governance is alive and well in Ansonia," he said.

"I would also like the congratulate the Charter Revision Commission for all of its hard work and the firm of Berchem, Moses, and Devlin for its expert legal assistance."

~The Results~

Ballot Question #2 (Ward Reduction):  2,199 YES  2,248  NO

Ballot Question #3 (Budget Reform):  3,358 YES  1,075 NO

Ballot Question #4 (Mayoral and Aldermanic Powers):  3,092 YES  1,325 NO

Ballot Question #5 (Clean Up):  3,514 YES    913 NO

This is a press release from Ansonia Economic Development Director Sheila O'Malley.