New Britain's young mayor, Erin Stewart, faces a big challenge: Trying to avoid another increase in property taxes, after receiving a budget proposal that increases spending by almost two percent, despite the likelihood that, going forward, her city will receive millions less in state aid.
Stewart, a Republican now running for a third term in office, has already raised taxes twice during her tenure, and desperately wants to avoid another one. The city's mill rate is already more than $50.