An emergency Town Council meeting turned into a wild screaming match Sunday in Stratford.

It all was over a proposed property tax hike of about $100 a year for the average homeowner.

"Why would you go and give administration huge salary increases?” asked Stratford resident Barbara Heimlich, after being escorted out of the meeting by a police officer. “Why would you pay $100,000 to cut down trees?”

Similar to the state of Connecticut, Stratford is operating without a town budget, meaning tax bills can't go out on time. The mayor warned that Stratford will run out of money by next month without those payments.

"The town runs out of money in August because we need to issue tax bills,” said Mayor John Harkins.

Harkins said he is prepared to send out tax bills himself to make sure police and firefighters get paid, but News 12 is told other town workers could face layoffs.

Since the Town Council was unable to pass an emergency plan Sunday, they will be back Wednesday night to try again.