Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons’s Op-Ed Published in the Stamford Advocate
Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons (opinion): Budget ‘is an investment in our values’
By Mayor Caroline SimmonsUpdated June 2, 2024 7:46 p.m.
Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons chats before delivering the State of the City speech at The Village in Stamford, Conn. April 25, 2024.
Tyler Sizemore, Staff Photographer / Hearst Connecticut Media
It has been said that budgets reflect one’s values. Viewed through that lens, our city’s Fiscal Year 2024-2025 budget reflects our values and vision to build a more inclusive, equitable, innovative, and vibrant city where everyone can thrive. It builds on our existing strong financial foundation and adheres to principles of fiscal responsibility while also making important new investments in essential services, infrastructure, public safety, housing, and sustainability.
Heading into this budget cycle, the City of Stamford’s finances were strong. This was demonstrated by our AAA bond rating, $14 million in surplus from FY2022, growing revenues, and a grand list that has grown to more than $27 billion, the second highest in the state. This responsible growth is allowing Stamford to continue to invest in critical services and infrastructure that make our city such a desirable place to live, work, and start a business, and to do so without mill rate increases. Due to this growth and our sound fiscal management, Stamford’s mill rate dropped this cycle from 25 to 23.6, making Stamford’s mill rate the lowest of any big city in the state, further enhancing our economic competitiveness and ability to attract businesses and jobs. We know that the high cost of living remains a challenge and that is why this budget cycle, and in future budget cycles, we will continue to limit major spending increases and ensure we have a balanced city budget that does not overburden residents.
Our continued fiscal responsibility allows us to fund important services across city government and make new investments in key areas. This budget includes funding for important quality of life initiatives, including investments in our parks, roads, school facilities, and senior housing. In keeping with my administration’s “Pave Stamford” initiative goal to pave 200 roads by 2025, this budget dedicates funding for road paving, with new investments to repair sidewalks to ensure they are safer and more accessible. Pedestrian safety remains a core tenet of all our infrastructure investments, and we are funding upgrades to our roadways to implement our Vision Zero goals.
Furthering our commitments outlined in the City’s Executive Order Addressing Climate Change and Sustainability, this budget doubles the amount of funding for city parks across multiple projects and adds resources for additional park enforcement personnel, so that we can ensure all residents have access to safe and clean parks across our city.
As part of our continued focus on investing in Stamford Public Schools, this year’s budget proposes investments to school facilities that support our Long-Term Facilities Plan and authorizes funding for 14 school improvement projects and for school security infrastructure, ensuring we are investing in safe and high-quality facilities for students and teachers.
Finally, we are making investments in public safety equipment upgrades for police, fire, EMS, and 911 call center personnel, which collectively will enhance public safety for all Stamford residents and provide the necessary equipment and technology that our first-responders need to do their jobs.
This budget represents more than numbers — it is an investment in our values to build a more equitable and prosperous city and my administration’s commitment to ensuring our community remains a vibrant place to live, work, and raise a family.
Caroline Simmons is mayor of Stamford.
June 2, 2024 | Updated June 2, 2024 7:46 p.m.
Mayor Caroline Simmons
