MEDIA ADVISORY
For Immediate Release
January 21, 2010

For More Information:
John Ivanic, (614) 645-6798
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City Council Welcomes Public Comment on Proposed 2010 Budget Amendments

(COLUMBUS)—As a part of the 2010 budget process, Columbus City Council Finance Committee Chair Andrew J. Ginther and members of Council will host a public comment hearing on the 2010 proposed budget amendments tonight, Thursday, January 21, 2010 at 5:00 pm in Council Chambers, 90 W. Broad Street.

During a press conference yesterday, Councilmembers announced the addition of $4.7 million in amendments to the city budget including approximately $2.2 million in funding for a new fire recruit class scheduled to begin in June. Council also unveiled 18 other amendments totaling approximately $2.5 million for city services and programs.

“I would like to thank Mayor Coleman, Councilmember Ginther and all my colleagues for coming together and building consensus on our budget priorities,” said Council President Michael C. Mentel. “Our focus with the 2010 budget, and specifically with these amendments, centered on protecting the safety and well-being of our citizens, promoting economic development, and maintaining fiscal discipline by committing a total of $15 million into the Rainy Day Fund.”

The public is invited to address City Council and members of Mayor Coleman’s administration on budget-related topics. Council will accept speaker request forms from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. today and will hear from citizens based upon the order in which the speaker forms are received. Those who wish to testify before Council may complete a speaker slip at the security station located inside the Front Street entrance to City Hall. I.D. is required to enter the building. Free parking is available after 5:00 p.m. in the City Hall surface lot at Gay and Front Streets.

The following is the list of the proposed 2010 City Council Budget Amendments:

Uniformed Fire Personnel $2,193,216.00

This amendment will provide funding for a Fire recruit class of fifty (50) beginning in June, 2010. This will ensure placement of new Firefighters in stations in early 2011, and will assist in mitigating the impact of retirements associated with the Deferred Retirement Option Plan (D.R.O.P.).

Sponsor(s): All Councilmembers are co-sponsoring this amendment.

Community Shelter Board $360,000.00

Reductions in funding from other sources and increased demands for services have created a significant gap in funding for the Community Shelter Board. This amendment will help to ensure the continued delivery of critical services and programs.

Sponsor(s): Councilmembers Michael C. Mentel and Charleta B. Tavares

Economic Development Plan $325,000.00

In 2009, the Mayor and Columbus City Council proposed a three-point plan to address the City’s structural budget deficit. The plan included an income tax increase; significant government reforms and cost savings; and an increased focus on job creation and economic development. This budget amendment will provide increased funding for economic development initiatives, specifically: job attraction, retention and creation. The initial investment will fund increased marketing, business outreach and development assistance, and will leverage existing resources, relationships and partnerships. Performance metrics will be in place to ensure maximum return on investment, measured in jobs retained and created, and in increased revenue to the City.

Sponsor(s): Councilmember Andrew J. Ginther

Columbus Cultural Leadership Consortium $300,000.00

The Columbus Cultural Leadership Consortium is comprised of 16 organizations including the city’s major cultural and artistic institutions. The CCLC established the Arts Stabilization Fund as a method of raising and leveraging private and public funds for member organizations, while a long-term cultural plan is developed. This amendment will provide a match to funding provided by Franklin County and will help to provide year-long support to CCLC members while work on the long-term plan continues.

Sponsor(s): Councilmembers Priscilla R. Tyson and Michael C. Mentel

Recreation & Parks (Restorations) $263,000.00

In recent years, the Department of Recreation & Parks have been severely impacted by budget cuts, punctuated in 2009 by recreation center closures and layoffs. This amendment will help to restore programming, rehire key staff and to reopen Tuttle Recreation Center on a part-time basis. The amendment will also dedicate funding for the restoration of a limited number of landscape beautification grants.

Sponsor(s): Councilmember Priscilla R. Tyson

Franklin Park Conservatory $250,000.00

In 2009, the City of Columbus reduced the annual operating subsidy to Franklin Park Conservatory, creating a significant budget deficit for the Conservatory. The subsidy is intended to defray maintenance and security costs for 60 acres of Franklin Park owned the City. This amendment will help mitigate the impact of funding cuts, and increases to $350,000 the total amount budgeted for the Conservatory in 2010.

Sponsor(s): Councilmembers Michael C. Mentel and Priscilla R. Tyson

TechColumbus $250,000.00

In 2007, TechColumbus launched the TechStart program designed to accelerate the creation of new technology companies in the region. The program provides pre-seed funding to help launch tech startups, and has seen positive results. This amendment allows TechColumbus to leverage City funding to secure additional pre-seed dollars through a 1:1 state match, with the goal of providing $2 million in pre-seed funding.

Sponsor(s): Councilmembers A. Troy Miller and Hearcel F. Craig

Human Services Restoration $126,000.00

Human services funding has been significantly reduced in recent budget cycles, while demand for services has steadily increased. This amendment will help to better meet critical needs, including: child care assistance, employment services, foreclosure counseling and staffing at the City’s contract social service agencies. This amendment will supplement $3,570,006.00 budgeted in the Mayor’s proposed 2010 budget.

Sponsor(s): Councilmember Charleta B. Tavares

Franklin County Municipal Court, Clerk of Court's Office $100,000.00

This amendment will help mitigate budget cuts, increased costs and staffing reductions for the Franklin County Municipal Court Clerk of Court’s office, including: staff for 24/7 law enforcement functions; witness fees; bank fees associated with the offering of on-line credit card payment options; and equipment maintenance. This amendment will supplement the $12,134,110.00 budget proposed by Mayor Coleman.

Sponsor(s): Councilmember Eileen Y. Paley

Franklin County Municipal Court $100,000.00

This amendment will help mitigate budget cuts, increased costs and staffing reductions for the Franklin County Municipal Court. The need for additional staff, including officers, interpreters and other professionals, as well as juror fees and monitoring costs, continues to strain the FCMC budget. This amendment will supplement the $14,574,234.00 budget proposed by Mayor Coleman.

Sponsor(s): Councilmember Eileen Y. Paley

Office of Minority Health $80,000.00

This amendment will assist in combating health disparities in minority communities in Columbus, and to fund programs designed to promote the health and well-being of infants, and to prevent chronic disease, illness and premature death among adults. This amendment supplements the $299,087.00 included in the Mayor’s 2010 budget.

Sponsor(s): Councilmember Charleta B. Tavares

Community Crime Patrol $78,000.00

Community Crime Patrol (CCP) assists the Columbus Division of Police in identifying suspicious activities indicative of criminal behavior and reporting them to the Division. CCP also assists in reporting code violations and patrols serve as ambassadors to the community. Due to significant cuts in City funding, CCP has been forced to reduce hours and patrols. This amendment will help mitigate the impact of ongoing budget cuts and help avoid further reductions in service.

Sponsor(s): Councilmember Andrew J. Ginther

Amethyst $65,472.00

This amendment will help support Amethyst’s long-term treatment program integrated with sober housing for women identified through the Franklin County Municipal Court’s Changing Actions To Change Habits (CATCH) docket. By providing an alternative to incarceration through an intensive, court-supervised environment that addresses criminal activity and helps offenders become productive members of society, the City is able to reduce jail costs associated with housing non-violent offenders, break the cycle of criminal behavior and positively impact lives.

Sponsor(s): Councilmembers Eileen Y. Paley, A. Troy Miller and Hearcel F. Craig

Ohio Small Business Development Center (SBDC) $60,000.00

This amendment will allow the Small Business Development Center at Columbus State Community College to increase outreach and training for small businesses in underserved areas of Columbus, and to increase access to capital funding. The amendment will also help the SBDC provide specific support to businesses in the Latino community, including focused programming and content in both English and Spanish.

Sponsor(s): Councilmember Hearcel F. Craig

Development Department Staff (Restorations) $55,165.00

This amendment will restore one (1) position in the Historic Preservation Office eliminated in the 2009 budget. Among the many mandated responsibilities, the office provides support to 5 architectural review commissions with statutory design review for 7,000 parcels in Columbus and the Board of Commission Appeals, as well as performing Section 106 reviews for all federally-funded projects under and agreement with the state of Ohio. The work of Historic Preservation Office is directly tied to community redevelopment efforts, and the City’s ongoing efforts to revitalize neighborhoods, and will speed response to property owners and developers.

Somali Community Association of Ohio $50,000.00

Columbus has the second largest Somali population in the country, and the Somali Community Association of Ohio has been providing much need services to this growing community of refugees and immigrants since 2000. This amendment will help support the Association’s dedicated staff and volunteers in promoting self-sufficiency through employment, education, cultural and social support and economic empowerment.

Sponsor(s): Councilmember Hearcel F. Craig

Columbus Neighborhood Health Centers $50,000.00

This amendment will help to provide prenatal care in the Linden area of Columbus, and to provide critically important services necessary to ensure healthy, full-term births. Prenatal services were recently eliminated in this part of Columbus, a neighborhood with one of the highest infant mortality rates in the country.

Sponsor(s): Councilmember Charleta B. Tavares

Crime Stoppers $25,397.00

Central Ohio Crime Stoppers is a nonprofit organization which provides citizens a means to anonymously report information to law enforcement agencies. City Council amended the 2007 budget to provide $34,000 to help employ one (1) professional staff member, to manage the web site, media releases and oversee all volunteers and the tip line. The funding for the staff person is to accommodate the increasing number of tips being received on an annual basis. In 2009, Crime Stoppers received 2,229 tips which resulted in 132 arrests and 254 criminal charges.

Sponsor(s): Councilmembers Eileen Y. Paley and Andrew J. Ginther

Access Health Columbus $15,000.00

This amendment will help to support the mission and work of Access Health Columbus, and to promote the expansion of health services to uninsured members of our community. Access Health works to improve access to health care in our community, particularly for those most vulnerable, by advancing public-private partnerships and promoting innovative solutions.

Sponsor(s): Councilmember Charleta B. Tavares

Total Council Amendments $4,746,250.00

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