blevine@thestamfordtimes.com

STAMFORD — After weeks of meetings and discussion about Mayor Dannel P. Malloy's proposed spending plan, the board of representatives unanimously approved a budget of $443.9 million at Tuesday night's special budget hearing.

The final budget figure was reached after the board approved $690,331 in additional cuts that were recommended by the fiscal committee last week.

The new spending plan also reduced the city's avenge mill rate from 16.04 to 15.89. A mill is $1 for every $1,000 of assessed property. The board of finance will hold a meeting to vote on the specific mill rate for each taxing district Tuesday, May 20.

The board also approved a reduction of $115,000 to the city's capital budget, reducing its total to $72.4 million. The mayor had proposed a capital budget of $72.6 million in March. The mayor's capital budget will be funded by $40 million in tax-supported general obligations bonds; the remainder will be supported by state and federal grants.

City representatives attempted to amend the fiscal committee's recommended cuts as well as make additional cuts to the city's operating budget, but each motion was defeated on the floor.

Rep. John Zelinsky, D-11 attempted to reinstate one of the private and parochial school nurses (which represents $45,537 in city spending) that the fiscal committee recommended cutting.

"I think in fairness to all the private schools, they should have equal access to health care," Zelinsky said. "It would be money well spent and certainly be helpful to those parents and children who go to private and parochial schools."

Rep. Randall Skigen, D-19, chair of the fiscal committee, who proposed the reduction at the fiscal committee meeting last week, believed making the cut was the fiscally responsible move to make.

"More importantly, by going to three school nurse we achieve a ratio at the private and parochial schools, which is equivalent to the ratio of student to nurse in public schools."

Zelinsky's motion to reinstate the cut position failed by a vote of 8-25.

Other cuts proposed by the board included eliminating $93,950 from the police's department budget. The figure represents the salary that would be paid to a newly hired administrative manager, which city officials hope will improve spending efficiency within the department.

However, Rep. Carl Franzetti, R-14, said given the current economic climate, now is not the time to hire new positions.

"We hear time and time again from department heads we need more personnel to reduce spending, and it never happens," Franzetti said. "Throwing money and adding personnel at a problem never works."

Skigen said eliminating the position would be a terrible mistake, and board agreed with him, defeating the motion 14-21.

The board again voiced its displeasure with the mayor's bundling of projects in the capital budget, putting representatives in an all or nothing position.

Skigen said his committee plans to closely monitor the allocated money is spent in the upcoming fiscal year, and asked that his committee be given quarterly reports.

In an attempt to stop the installation of synthetic turf fields at West Beach and Lione Park, City Rep. Patrick White, D-1, proposed to cut $3 million from park and field improvements projects in the capital budget.

Some representatives agreed with White's motion, including Rep. Eileen Heaphy, D-8, who said the city should consider the warnings of the potential health and environmental risks associated with synthetic turf fields.

However, Rep. Joseph Coppola, R-15, saw otherwise.

"We saw lots of material from people on both sides of the issue, but I don't recall ever seeing any warnings," he said.

After a lengthy debate, White's motion failed by a vote of 9-26.

At the end of the meeting, Rep. Robert "Gabe" DeLuca, R-14, said the board again found itself in the tough position of mitigating spending, without drastically reducing city services residents depend on.

DeLuca cautioned the board that it needs to take the appropriate steps to control city spending, otherwise the tax burden on city residents will eventually become too burdensome.

"I can promise everyone here that I will never again support a budget that increases spending and raises taxes to the extent we have seen here tonight and seen over the last several years," DeLuca said.