The following was submitted by presidents of four city government unions:
The “Crisis Budget” proposed by Mayor Elicker containing program and service cuts will undoubtedly inflict harmful impacts if passed.
Unfortunately, crises budgets are a road we have been down before.
Years of austerity have further exacerbated already existing disparities leaving working families and the most vulnerable shouldering the heaviest burden. The time is now for Yale University to step up and make a greater commitment to New Haven.
As New Haven finds itself with a $66 million budget shortfall, Yale had a $203 million surplus. Its current endowment at $31 billion, one of the largest in the world, eclipses the total GDP of the country of Estonia. As 34 percent of our young children live in poverty and 40% of residents are unable to afford basic needs of food and housing, Yale’s expansion of non-taxable city property helped grow its coffers. Roughly half of the city’s tax-exempt property, valued at $4.2 billion, is owned by the university. Imagine the investments in health services and housing, afterschool programs, public spaces, and education if even a proportion of taxes paid on that $4.2 billion went directly into our revenue streams.
More than ever, we need revenue that can help our communities not only survive this pandemic but thrive as we emerge from it. Governor Lamont signaled he will sign HB6516, which will generate roughly $49 million in additional revenue for New Haven from the restructuring of PILOT.
However, passing this bill is not enough. The road to sustainability and greater community investment lies with Yale University paying its fair share in taxes.
As employees for the City of New Haven, we see every day how the services we provide improve quality of life for residents. We work as nurses, custodians, administrators, housing inspectors, maternal-child outreach workers, dispatchers, social workers, supervisors, librarians and know firsthand how our work is a vital lifeline that residents rely on.
If the status quo of austerity continues and Yale abandons its responsibility to our City in this time of great need, more and more people will be left behind. Working- and middle-class families have suffered enough. We need Yale to do the right thing and pay its fair share.
Cynthia Harris-Jackson, President AFSCME Local 1303 – 467, New Haven Nurses
Harold Brooks, President AFSCME Local 3144, New Haven Supervisors
Tom Delucia, President AFSCME Local 287, New Haven Board of Education Custodians
Lore Lichtenberg, President AFSCME Local 884, New Haven Classified Employees