City Announces $13M In Additional Cuts
Denise Yost
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By Denise Yost
Managing Editor, nbc4i.com
Published: January 6, 2009
COLUMBUS, Ohio—The City of Columbus is already facing a multi-million dollar budget shortfall, but another $13 million will need to be added to the final tally.
The city was facing a nearly $83 million budget shortfall, but the city auditor announced the rising unemployment and declining in interest rates puts the City of Columbus in an even deeper hole, putting their total financial cuts at just less than $96 million.
The closure of 12 recreation centers and 130 layoffs were already announced before the latest cuts.
City leaders said that 2008 income tax revenue fell $2 million below already diminished expectations. Earnings from investment interest netted the city $8 million less than the $17 million forecast and funding cuts from local counties and the state government cost the city more than $3 million.
So where does Columbus go to find another $13 million to cut?
Mayor Michael Coleman’s spokesman Dan Williamson said that all options are on the table, including cuts to public safety. But, Williamson said, the cuts will be spread over many areas—not just one.
Coleman and city council plan to come up with a balanced budget by mid-February. While the possibility of new taxes remains in the future, there’s not enough time to implement and collect such a tax to make up the $13 million shortfall.
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Posted by ( Red ) on January 07, 2009 at 9:10 am
Really… Can our City affort to make more public safety cuts??? Crime is at an all time high in Columbus. Everytime I am in a bank I think to myself, “is this bank going to get robbed while I am here???“ Residents complain because officers dont respond quick enough…. well there just arent enough officers. I am sure there are other areas the Mayor can cut from…..we have men and women out there putting their lives on the line for us every day…dont make it even worse!
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