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Columbus development budget prioritizes housing stability as federal rental aid winds down
Summary
City Department of Development leaders told Columbus City Council that the 2025 operating budget focuses on staffing and program dollars to deploy bond, federal and local funding to preserve and build affordable housing even as federal emergency rental assistance ends.
Council President Hardin opened a Jan. 21 committee hearing on the Department of Development's operating budget by saying an eviction story from his own family showed why the city must act to keep residents housed. “That young lady was my niece,” Hardin said, describing a student whose household lost a long‑standing apartment when a building sold and whose family had to move out of the neighborhood.
The Department of Development framed the proposed 2025 operating budget around implementation, not new financing, arguing staff capacity is critical to move projects that use bond, federal and other funds. “Our general fund proposed totals $34,500,000,” Deputy Director Bill Westrick told council. He said that about $13.8 million is for staff and operations and roughly $19.8 million is for programmatic costs. Westrick described a housing division operating request of $4.2 million and a homelessness operating request of $6.1 million.
Nut graf: Department leaders urged council that staffing and program continuity are…
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