We, the undersigned residents and taxpayers of the City of Ansonia, hereby petition, pursuant to the authority granted to the electors of this municipality, that the City Charter be amended to require a yearly public referendum on the proposed municipal budget prior to its final adoption.

We assert that an annual budget referendum is necessary to ensure that tax increases do not occur without direct voter approval, particularly given the financial pressures faced by many households within the City. 

A yearly budget vote serves as a structural safeguard, guaranteeing that decisions affecting municipal spending and taxation reflect the informed consent of the residents who fund the operations of local government.

Accordingly, we petition the City of Ansonia to adopt a charter provision requiring the following:

1. Annual Budget Referendum:  
   A public referendum on the proposed municipal budget shall be held each fiscal year prior to final adoption.
2. Public Notice and Transparency:  
   Clear, timely, and accessible public notice of the proposed budget shall be provided to all residents prior to the referendum.
3. Line‑Item Budget Disclosure: 
   A complete, line‑item version of the proposed budget shall be released to the public no fewer than ten (10) full business days prior to the referendum, allowing sufficient time for thorough review.
4. Budget Adoption by Elected Officials Only: 
   The final proposed budget submitted to referendum shall be adopted solely by the elected Board of Aldermen, and not by any volunteer or appointed body, including but not limited to the Board of Apportionment & Taxation (BOAT).
5. No Automatic Tax Increase:  
   No tax increase shall take effect without explicit voter approval through the annual budget referendum.
6. Majority Rule: 
   Approval or rejection of the proposed budget shall be determined by a simple majority of participating voters.

By signing below, we affirm that budgetary authority must remain with the voters of Ansonia and must not default to administrative action or low‑turnout procedural mechanisms. This petition seeks to preserve democratic oversight, fiscal accountability, and public trust in the municipal budgeting process.