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To Veto or Not to Veto -

Jenna Carlesso

May 19, 2010

HARTFORD -- The city council this afternoon voted in favor of cutting $9.8 million from Mayor Eddie A. Perez's proposed $554.3 million budget for 2010-11.

The cuts include:

* $100,000 from the fire department

* $200,000 from the police department

* $400,000 from the legal expenses and settlements account

* $100,000 from the unemployment compensation account

* $275,000 from the insurance expense account

* $250,000 from the contingency account

* $100,000 in city contribution toward public programs

* $100,000 from the Hartford Arts Council account

* $1.25 million in the city's direct contribution to education

* Roughly $7.1 million in citywide salaries and benefits, which could be achieved through union concessions, a retirement incentive program and adjustments to the pension contribution.

The city has also identified $3.8 million in new revenues. That money comes from a variety of sources, including licenses and permits, federal stimulus funds and intergovernmental revenue. The budget will now go to the mayor, who will have an opportunity to line-item veto the council's work.

Perez is expected to make a statement at city hall at 5:30 p.m. Stay tuned.