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Budget committee hears a patchwork of council amendment proposals focused on housing, nonprofits and capital needs
Summary
Council members presented individual budget amendments that prioritize housing, neighborhood infrastructure, nonprofit leverage support, workforce development and capital projects; the chair urged aggregation into a single package to vote before June 30.
The Budget and Finance Committee heard a series of councilmember budget amendments and public comments that together outline competing priorities the full council must reconcile before the June 30 budget deadline.
Committee leadership said the nine council members will present and then attempt to aggregate their adjustment proposals into a single package. The chair summarized the timeline: the goal is to present a consolidated budget by mid-June, discuss it in finance and, if ready, vote on the 18th; regardless, the council must adopt a final budget by June 30.
Council member Tamika Walsh presented a wide set of proposed reallocations and identified roughly $7.9 million in sources, plus additional funds, to finance items including a $2 million lateral police class, a proposed increase to the city’s quick-strike acquisition fund, sidewalk repairs for city-owned properties, catalytic gap financing for development, and continued support for CincyTech and Centrifuse. Walsh said the Riverbend (now cited as the Farmer Family Music Center) project and a second-year contribution to the Cincinnati Sports Commission were among economic-development priorities she believes justify city investment.
Other council members highlighted complementary priorities. Council member Albee pressed for resources for the city’s gun-violence “ACT for Cincy” action teams and for funding to repair sidewalks that the city owns. Council member Jeffries described a process choice to avoid changing human-services allocations that had been recommended by volunteer advisory reviewers; he also proposed funding for innovation and predevelopment programs and fleet replacement. Council member Nolan prioritized housing and set aside modest funds for a pothole “innovation lab,” quick-strike gap funding and the NCCIP program for predevelopment assistance.
The vice mayor asked the committee to restore or protect funding for several human-services programs, including the Center for Closing the Health Gap and Women Helping Women; she also advocated for OJPC’s expungement work and expanded expungement clinics after hearing high demand for services. Gabe Davis, representing the Ohio Justice & Policy Center, told the committee that OJPC’s application was not recommended by the human-services fund advisory committee and that the lack of recommendation would reduce local funding for OJPC by $100,000 compared with prior years.
Council members also raised workforce and neighborhood-focused programs: representatives urged support for Habitat for Humanity, the Art Academy of Cincinnati, Bethany House (which sought $245,000 in shelter operations funding and said a $45,000 shortfall would be consequential), Cardinal Land Conservancy and others. Vice Chair Johnson proposed a $500,000 allocation intended to help cover potential job losses for up to 17 city nurses affected by a contract change with Cincinnati Public Schools.
Director White (human services) explained the scoring process for human-services funding, saying the advisory committee funded top-scoring applications until funds were exhausted and that “it wasn't a judgment based on mission or on, people that were being served.” Director White said the city funded several legal services and expungement efforts through different programs and partners.
None of the council amendments were adopted during the committee session; members said they intend to consolidate and negotiate the proposed adjustments before a final vote later in the budget cycle.
