Thomas Breen Photo
Mayor Toni Harp at Sunday evening’s get-out-the-vote rally at Bella Vista.
Mayor Toni Harp supports more state funding for transportation. She doesn’t want to create a “lockbox” to do it.
Harp offered that view on an election-eve episode of WNHH FM’s “Mayor Monday” program.
On the program, she was asked about whether she supports a referendum question on Tuesday’s ballot to create a constitutional “lockbox” that would dedicate revenues raised from the gas tax and motor vehicles fines solely to transportation spending. It would be placed in a virtual “lockbox” that legislators wouldn’t be able to use for other purposes.
Advocates for investing in rebuilding roads and bridges and improving train and bus service are supporting a “yes” vote. They argue it will create public confidence by ensuring that the money would be used for that intended purpose and therefore enable the state to make much-needed transit upgrades.
Harp said she supports improved transit. But she argued that “lockboxes” limit legislators’ options when they have to make tough choices at budget time — when, perhaps, a more pressing need presents itself and there’s not enough money for every worthwhile use.
Harp, who for 11 years co-chaired the legislature’s Appropriations Committee, argued that the referendum question if approved, “would take away the responsibility that we’ve given to our legislature to make those decisions on our behalf based on what is happening when they pass that budget. … You’re really tying the hands and you’re absolving the legislature of the responsibility of doing the work.”
“That’s why we elect people to go the legislature. They are there in real time making real decisions based on what they think their constitutions need and want,” Harp said.
In response to a caller’s question, Harp reminded voters to turn over their ballots Tuesday so they can vote for state constitutional offices like comptroller, secretary of the state, attorney general, treasurer. The options for those offices will be placed on the back of New Haven’s ballot.
Each city has a different ballot; New Haven’s has races on both sides this year rather than one side. That has raised concerns that many voters won’t notice and turn the page over to complete their ballots.
Harp said she shares that concern.
“It’s an easy thing to forget. That will absolutely suppress the vote for the constitutional officers,” she said.
She said she hopes that poll workers remind all voters Tuesday about the double-sided ballots when voters sign in. After the election, she said, “we’re going to have to see how many votes fall off because we did it that way and have a conversation” if results show a drop-off in voting for races on the back.
Local city clerks design local ballots; then the secretary of the state’s office approves the designs. Secretary of the State spokesperson Gabe Rosenberg said local elections officials were asked during a pre-election conference call to remind voters on Tuesday about two-sided ballots.
“I haven’t heard concerns per se, especially since there are towns with two-sided ballots (because of local referenda) almost every election with statewide offices. Also, the instruction to turn the ballot over is big and bold,” Rosenberg stated. (View New Haven’s ballot here.)
Click on the Facebook Live video to watch the full episode of WNHH FM’s “Mayor Monday” program. On the program, she expressed interest in a propopsal by caller Rodney Williams to pursue taxation on vehicles with out-of-state plates that are stored and rented from New Haven U‑Haul outlets.
This episode of “Mayor Monday” was made possible with the support of Gateway Community College and Berchem Moses P.C.