Mayor Elicker is raising taxes 6%, increasing spending $27 million, and adding 25 employees to the City payroll. The tax increase comes despite a cash windfall of $100 million from the Feds, a $49 million increase in State PILOT funds, and a $10 million increase in Yale contributions.

What’s worse is Elicker’s tax increase does nothing for homeowners. He hasn’t presented a plan to address quality of life issues such as traffic enforcement, noise complaints, loitering, and trash. And his budget does nothing to make it easier for residents to receive city services. For examples, residents can’t reach Public Works by email, book a bulk trash appointment online, and the x6316 non-emergency number is a farce.

Meanwhile, the Mayor has reneged on his larger promises like fixing LCI and being transparent. In fact, the Mayor hasn’t shared the mill rate assumptions, or an excel version of the budget, and his department heads were unable to answer basic budget questions when testifying before the Board of Alders.

Please join me in saying NO to Mayor Elicker’s tax increase.