About 70 percent of the budget, or $520 million will be allocated for public safety.? Under the mayor's proposal, Columbus would have 1,903 police officers and 1,552 firefighters by the end of 2013.? The mayor said he will continue the police strike force, increase resources to fight gangs, and expand the program to put video cameras in neighborhoods to keep them safer.
The mayor is asking City Council to build the city's rainy day fund to $50 million in 2013.? Columbus is the largest American city to receive the highest possible credit ranking from each of the three major credit rating agencies, saving taxpayer dollars with? lower interest rates.? Coleman said it is his job to plan for the worst days for the city.? "I would not have imagined a 9-11, or that Wall Street would fail.? Who knows where the next crisis will occur and how it will impact Columbus?? Will it be the fiscal cliff or with Iran?? We have to prepare for those things and I would like to grow the savings to $75 million."
The budget calls for a 10-year reform plan in the area of employee benefits.? Columbus has taken steps to save $210 million by 2019 by curbing changing pension matches, eliminating unnecessary overtime, and other cost cutting measures.
The mayor said we need to continue to reach out to "the weakest among us."? He is proposing $18 million for human service needs.? Through a reallocation of the bed tax,? Columbus social service agencies would receive an additional $360,000 in 2013.
The Development Department would be funded at $22.6 million.? The city wants to continue to deal with the problem of vacant homes , junk car removal, and graffiti removal.? The city plans to continue to support economic development in the areas of logistics, small business development, and technology-based companies. The Columbus 2020 program, which aims to add 150,000 new jobs and increase incomes by 30 percent by the year 2020, would get $700,000.
The budget includes money to support the city's 240 public parks, recreation centers and swimming pools.? It also includes money to create a new Education Commission by the end of this year "so that every child has an opportunity to succeed," said Coleman.
The mayor said the city has spent $125 million less than budgeted since 2001, and about $12 million has been saved in 2012 by spending below budgeted levels.
City Council will hold public hearings on the plan and can made amendments to it.?? They are expected to adopt the amended budget in late January or early February.
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Reporter: LuAnn Stoia
Web Producer: Kellie HannaMayor Coleman Presents His City Budget
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