Taxpayers start budget battle with city

NEW LONDON, Conn. (WTNH) -- A New London group of taxpayers is once again trying to start a budget battle with the city.

The last time the group organized a referendum residents voted down the budget and the city council came back with a lower tax rate.

LOT or lower our taxes is hoping to once again let New London voters decide on the city budget.

More than 800 signatures were presented to the assistant city clerk in support of a second budget referendum.

"Does this mean that the petitions were officially accepted," asked News 8's Tina Detelj.

"They have been stamped in, time stamped in," said Dawn Currier, assistant city clerk.

The folks are hoping they get the property tax rate approved by the city council lowered by raising revenue and they have some suggestions.

"I mean I'll give you a big one, they have $825,000 reserved fund for uncollected taxes," said Bill Cornish, LOT.

The group says the petitions won't necessarily have to force a referendum, but instead it could push the city council to take action first and try to lower the budget, but according to the man across the hall from the Mayor it's too late for either of those things to happen.

"There's a long standing legal opinion in the city of New London that if we cross a certain point in the fiscal year you can't have any more referendums," said Mayor Daryl Finizio. "You can petition which they did, you can submit it, we can put it on the city record, but we can't act on it."

"It goes from here to the city council. If the Mayor interjects himself he's violating the charter that he swore to uphold," Cornish said. "So you've got to ask the question, what's his deal?"

The city's charter may be up to interpretation and challenge.

"This could cost the city even more money though because these folks say they plan to sue," the Mayor said. "They have the right to do that, I have to keep the city operational."

The city has 10 days to respond to the referendum request.