Reducing funds for policing sees little traction

HARTFORD — During the home stretch of the grueling 2023 budget discussions last week, the Hartford City Council weighed four proposals to shift some funds from the police department to other city departments, all in the name of public safety.

Just one of the four proposals — moving $300,000 from the $50 million police budget to the fire department for three more positions focused on fire prevention and inspections — set forth by Working Families Party council members Josh Michtom and Tiana Hercules, passed.

But the discussions around the four proposals also centered around what falls under the definition of “public safety.”

“Public safety is more than funding the police every time,” Michtom said in support of the additional fire department positions. “It’s making sure that we don’t have fires. It’s making sure that our housing is safe. It’s really taking care of all of the things that make lives work here and let people thrive in our city and fire prevention is really important in our city.”

The measure passed 8-1, with Councilman John Gale voting against it.

The other three proposals called for reducing the police department’s budget in favor of funding different city departments, which Michtom and Hercules said would also make city streets safer.

Michtom and Hercules, for example, proposed shifting $1 million from the police department’s budget to the department of public works budget for maintenance and upkeep of the city’s public spaces, including parks and playgrounds.

Michtom, who in the past has been a vocal proponent of reducing funding for the police department, said the number of police officers Hartford has is high compared to similarly situated municipalities, either in terms of geographic size or population.

Against that backdrop, Michtom said, it’s the City Council’s job as managers of the budget to push back against a department that says it needs more staffing.

“We have a lot of cops,” Michtom said. “It’s not to say we don’t need some cops. … It is our responsibility to say maybe you’re not managing your resources well.”

Michtom said the police department could afford to take “a haircut” for the benefit of other departments.

“Public safety encompasses police, fire, parks, health, all the things that make a good life,” Michtom said. “Police can give up a little, because that $1 million will do a ton of good in our parks, in our playgrounds, in the spaces where our young folks get involved in activities that keep them out of crime and out of trouble.”

The measure failed 7-2. A similar proposal to shift $500,000 from the police department to the Department of Families, Children and Recreation for increased enrichment programming also failed 7-2.

Another proposal by Hercules and Michtom that got some traction was to take $500,000 from the police department’s budget to create a renters’ emergency fund to reduce the impact of eviction and homelessness on Hartford residents.

The fund, according to Michtom, would be for renters — who compose 75% of Hartford’s population — who are current on their rent to receive one-time grants to help cover security deposits, which can run $3,000 to $5,000, should they decide to move.

The idea would be to put pressure on landlords if they aren’t properly maintaining their properties by making it easier for tenants to move out, Michtom and Hercules said.

“This is an easy, effective way to make a difference in their lives,” Michtom said of renters, adding that evictions are at an all-time high since the moratorium was lifted.

Hercules said the city needs to step in to meet the needs of its residents who are in crisis.

Majority Leader Thomas Clarke and Councilman Nick Lebron joined Michtom and Hercules in supporting the resolution, but it ultimately failed 5-4.

“This resolution is very dear to my heart,” Council President Maly Rosado said. “Not only are the parents suffering [when they’re being evicted], it also puts stress on the children who are old enough to see what their parents are going through. But I can’t support it because its budget is coming out of the police department.”

Rosado said she wants to have further conservations to find other resources to fund the initiative.

The council also unanimously passed a resolution, proposed by Michtom, calling for the Department of Development Services to develop a system, and report back to council, concerning the hiring of additional housing inspectors.

The city currently has about six housing inspectors. The city budget, as well as through the use of other funding sources, calls for that number to jump to 14.

“That puts us more in line with cities our size,” Michtom said. “Our only concern is we want to make sure DDS is getting them hired, which has been a challenge, and developing a system so housing inspectors aren’t just responding to calls.”

Michtom said, because there are no random inspections of rental units, a landlord knows a tenant has made a call when a housing inspector shows up. That opens up the tenant to retaliation from the landlord, Michtom

said.

The idea is to have random inspections by housing inspectors so tenants are less likely to be subjected to retaliation, Michtom said.

The nearly $600 million budget passed last week, with Mayor Luke Bronin signing it without any vetoes.

At a public hearing in April, Bronin said the spending plan includes no new borrowing, nor does it include federal American Rescue Plan Act funds. Even though there is a $15.5 million increase over current spending levels, the proposed measure reduces the tax rate 7.2%, from 74.29 mills to 68.95 mills, Bronin said.

The budget includes $315.6 million for the municipal budget, of which $171 million, or nearly 55%, is allocated to payroll, benefits and insurance for employees.

Of the $124 million that is set aside for the municipal payroll, $89 million would be dedicated to public safety — police, fire and emergency services, Bronin said.

City schools will received $284 million.

Bronin, in a statement, and city councilors, at the end of the May 18 meeting, said they were pleased with the overall budget.

“I’m grateful to the City Council for their partnership and support in adopting a budget that is disciplined and responsible, making critical investments in public safety and vital services, reducing the the property tax rate, and keeping us on a sustainable path for the years ahead — as we work to accelerate our recovery and continue our growth,” Bronin said.

“I don’t think everyone got everything that they wanted, but I want to say this budget in totality really addresses some core community and economic investment,” Clarke said. “But there are some things that we have not been able to do and were able to accomplish today.”