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Columbus council adopts most of proposed 2025 budget; separates Integrated Waste and CDBG items for separate votes
Summary
Columbus City Council adopted most of the proposed FY26 budget on June 10, separating the Integrated Waste Fund and CDBG sections for separate votes and later approving the Integrated Waste adjustment and other non‑operating items.
Columbus City Council on June 10 advanced the city's FY26 budget package and several other routine items after splitting two sections for separate votes.
What the council did: the body voted to adopt an ordinance that contained the bulk of the proposed budget but explicitly separated out Section 7 (the Integrated Waste Fund) and Section 19 (the Community Development Block Grant proposed budget) for separate consideration. The council then took separate votes: it approved the Integrated Waste Fund budget adjustment (the meeting cited an Integrated Waste Fund budget total of $18,600,000) and then approved the remaining operating and non‑operating budget items, pension contributions and related financial actions the council had grouped together.
Why split sections: councilors said they wanted additional detail before committing to fee changes within integrated waste, notably a $3 per rate adjustment under discussion; Councilor Toya Tucker asked staff for salary‑savings breakdowns that might allow a smaller fee increase. Staff and the city attorney said the budget can be amended later but cautioned about pension and health allocation math when removing positions or saving projected salary funds.
Other votes and actions: - The council approved non‑operating budgets and a package of pension plan contributions, including public safety plans and related trust items, by omnibus vote. - The council approved a contract extension for concessionaire services at the government center and other procurement items listed on the manager's agenda. - On zoning items, several rezoning petitions were set to return for vote next week; a petition for a plasma collection center (CSL Plasma) at 42510 Winton Road proceeded through a special exception and was approved after staff and council discussion about community outreach and site improvements. - The council adopted a resolution amending purchasing rules (resolution language referenced as correction to a heading for 070-25) to add an extra exception for party/ broker awards under certain purchasing conditions.
Votes at a glance (key outcomes recorded in the meeting): - Motion to adopt the ordinance except for Sections 7 and 19 — approved by voice vote. - Motion to approve Section 7 (Integrated Waste Fund; $18,600,000) — motion passed; the minutes record two no votes on the item. - Non‑operating budgets, pension contributions, and related items — approved on omnibus vote. - Special exception for plasma center at 42510 Winton Road (CSL Plasma) — approved. - Resolution amending procurement/purchasing exception (070-25 correction) — approved.
What councilors requested next: staff were asked to produce a department‑by‑department breakdown of projected salary savings so council could consider reducing integrated waste increases, and to return with detailed figures at the next work session. Councilors also discussed whether to revisit rates mid‑year if additional savings materialize.
Context and constraints: staff noted some fee changes take effect July 1 and that mid‑year adjustments are possible but operationally complex. The city attorney and finance director warned that unfunding positions can have follow‑on pension and health‑benefit consequences that must be built into budget estimates.
Ending: the council passed the bulk of the budget and moved to separate consideration for particular fees and CDBG allocations; follow‑up work sessions and staff reports were requested before any further rate reductions.
