Rally for Education Funding!

Schedule

Tue, 28 Feb, 2023 at 07:00 pm

Location

Norwalk City Hall | Norwalk, CT

Please come out Tuesday at 7pm to attend a short rally at City Hall and attend the Common Council meeting at 7:30 in the Common Council Chambers on the 3rd floor!
• Send public comments as soon as possible, and before 4:30pm Tuesday. Here are the emails: Irene Dixon, City Clerk - [email protected], Full Common Council - [email protected], Mayor Harry Rilling - [email protected], Laoise King Chief of Staff - [email protected], cc: [email protected], [email protected]
• Attend the Rally with your students and in your school spirit wear!
• If you can’t attend in person, Watch and Comment on Zoom! You can find the link for the meeting here: https://apps.norwalkct.org/meetingboard/meetinglist
• If there is a snow day tomorrow, use the time to invite your students to create art, signs or write a comment to share by email or in the meeting Public Comments section. Prizes for the best signs or artwork!
• Write an Opinion Editorial or Letter to the Editor and send it to The Hour and Nancy on Norwalk: [email protected], and [email protected] with writer’s name, full address, phone number, and write Letter to the Editor in the subject line. Only the name and town would be published in The Hour.
• Call your friends and make sure they know about the Rally!
• Bring snacks to share if you wish, so we can enjoy our time together.
Why are we holding a rally? Unfortunately, the City Finance Department didn't provide the Grand List to the Finance and Claims Committee last Thursday, so they weren't able to make a recommendation for the Budget cap. If the Grand List is only revealed on the 28th, there won't be time for public comment before the Council votes if they vote on the 28th. That's why we're suggesting that we come together for a rally to support our schools on Tuesday, February 28th at City Hall at 7:00pm. We'll watch the meeting together at 7:30pm. This may be the only opportunity to give feedback to the Council before they vote. Hopefully the Common Council will take their time to allow for community response to their recommendation and vote on March 7th.
It's important to engage with the budget process and ensure transparency. We deserve a say in how our city is run. Let's make our voices heard and show our support for our schools!
This is the link for the Zoom to participate in Public Comments by Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85140970275?pwd=eFJhWFBOOXlKVi82aTZYYWt6WExTUT09
This is the link to watch the meeting on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRcAj0a6fNzo2prQ6LhSjVA
Additional Information about the Budget Process
Important Dates:
February 28th: Common Council Meeting at 7:30pm 3rd Floor Council Chambers, possible vote on the Budget
March 7th: Latest deadline to approve the Operating Budget cap, as advertised since November
March 22nd: Board of Estimate and Taxation Public Hearing on the Operating Budget
April 11th: Common Council set the final Operating Budget cap.
May 1st: Board of Estimate and Taxation sets Final Operating Budget and tax levy.
June: Board of Education votes on the Reconciled Operating Budget for Norwalk Public Schools
You can view the City of Norwalk Budgets here: https://norwalkct.org/941/Budgets
You can view the Norwalk Public Schools Budgets here: https://norwalkps.org/540240_3?articleID=121888 and here: https://norwalkps.org/612494_3
You can read about Thursday's Finance and Claims meeting here: https://www.nancyonnorwalk.com/norwalk-cfo-blasted-as-council-committee-delays-budget-cap-recommendation/#more-109393
Why is this important? The Finance department of the City of Norwalk may present the Council with the Grand list after Public Comment on Tuesday, and the Common Council may vote at the same meeting. In that scenario the public will have no opportunity to comment on the proposed Operating Budget Cap. Usually the Finance & Claims Committee has an opportunity to discuss the new Grand List and how that impacts the city's ability to raise revenues. The Finance department should file the Grand List by January 31st, but they were granted an extension for the 4th year in a row, until February 28th. You can read about the last few grand lists here: https://www.nancyonnorwalk.com/norwalk-adds-361-1-million-to-grand-list/
You can find information about City of Norwalk Public Meetings here, including Agendas, Minutes and Meeting Notices: https://norwalkct.org/1074/Actions-Agendas-and-Minutes
To watch video of any of the Common Council Meetings: https://www.Norwalkct.org/youtube
To watch video of Board of Education Meetings:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp9LWomxX4LEEyBL2pTOqBw
Thanks for supporting your schools, and please reach out with any questions!

Where is it happening?

Norwalk City Hall, 125 East Ave,Norwalk,CT,United States

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

Host or Publisher Norwalk PTO Council

Tags: