# BoA Finance Committee 9/14/2026

The Board of Alders Finance Committee of New Haven convened on September 14, 2026, to discuss three key procurement and budget-related items. First, the committee reviewed and approved an ordinance to issue up to $27 million in general obligation bonds to fund settlements for two major litigation cases against the city. The bonding approach was justified due to cash flow constraints and the size of the settlements, with an estimated additional $2.66 million in annual debt service. Second, the committee approved an amendment to increase the contract amount with the outside legal services firm Howard and Luedorff LLC by $235,000 for legal work performed in the prior fiscal year on complex litigation cases. Third, the committee considered and approved salary increases for several positions in the Labor Relations Department, including the Director and Senior Labor Relations Counsel, to address recruitment challenges and retain qualified staff. The committee also passed an amendment removing a salary increase for the Labor Research Associate position, which had already been filled. Throughout the meeting, members discussed budget impacts, insurance coverage limits, and the importance of maintaining in-house legal capacity to reduce reliance on costly outside counsel.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Professional Services, Public Safety
**Topics:** Grants & Funding, Contracting Vehicles
**Published:** September 14, 2026

### Sources
- [BoA Finance Committee 9/14/2026](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EH3SDbmFvQ) - Board of Alders