Cincinnati Recreation Commission reports $1.5 million FY2025 overspend; council strips CRC items from omnibus budget ordinance

The Cincinnati Recreation Commission told the Budget & Finance committee on Wednesday that it overspent its fiscal 2025 operating budget by roughly $1.5 million and that the bulk of the overrun was in labor-related line items. The council voted to remove CRC-related transfers from a midyear budget ordinance and asked the commission and administration to return with a plan.

The overspend was discussed at a council hearing where Daniel Betts, director of the Cincinnati Recreation Commission, said, "we overspent at the tune of, over a million dollars." Jeanette, the commission's chief financial officer, told council that labor accounted for the largest share: "Labor is about 935,000 of that, 1.5 ask, that's in the ordinance at this time. 230,000 of it relates to a law that was recently passed where we have to maintain AED machines at all of our outside facilities..."

Council members emphasized the need for stronger monitoring and clearer controls. Council member Mark Jeffries asked for a breakdown of the overrun and asked whether the administration should approve the full supplemental request before CRC demonstrates corrective actions. Council member Walsh pressed on timing and asked why council should approve…