While Republican governors like Scott Walker and John Kasich earn headlines for their battles with public sector unions, across the country Democratic officeholders are facing the same fiscal pressures and often responding with tough measures that restrain pay and benefits, especially at the municipal level, where compensation costs are a disproportionate percentage of government budgets.
In New Haven, Connecticut's second-largest city, 17-year Mayor John DeStefano Jr. has faced street protests by public workers and their supporters, including the Rev. Al Sharpton, over his refusals to raise taxes to balance the city budget.
In New Haven, Connecticut's second-largest city, 17-year Mayor John DeStefano Jr. has faced street protests by public workers and their supporters, including the Rev. Al Sharpton, over his refusals to raise taxes to balance the city budget.
In February the city laid off 82 workers to close a $5.5 million budget gap in the current fiscal year, which ends June 30, after unions refused to compromise with DeStefano, who was seeking a range of concessions, including greater contributions from city workers toward pension costs. The mayor freely admits that he was guilty of granting some of the government perks he now terms "unaffordable" and is seeking to trim.
Now DeStefano has submitted a budget for next fiscal year which holds the line on taxes and holds out the prospect for more service cuts and layoffs. Like many municipal officials these days, DeStefano has little maneuvering room in the face of flat tax revenues and declining state aid: Compensation makes up 72 percent of the operating budgets of New Haven city departments. Still, this is an uncomfortable position for DeStefano, whose father was a cop and who has been regarded for much of his tenure as an ally of the city's public workers.
Now DeStefano has submitted a budget for next fiscal year which holds the line on taxes and holds out the prospect for more service cuts and layoffs. Like many municipal officials these days, DeStefano has little maneuvering room in the face of flat tax revenues and declining state aid: Compensation makes up 72 percent of the operating budgets of New Haven city departments. Still, this is an uncomfortable position for DeStefano, whose father was a cop and who has been regarded for much of his tenure as an ally of the city's public workers.
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