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Department of Neighborhoods highlights 311 modernization and community grants in 2026 budget presentation
Summary
Director Kim Douglas told Columbus City Council’s Neighborhoods Committee that 311 service requests rose nearly 50% over three years and outlined plans to modernize the system, protect core grants through capacity-building and adjust programs amid modest budget reductions.
Kim Douglas, director of the City of Columbus Department of Neighborhoods, presented the department's proposed 2026 operating budget to the Columbus City Council Neighborhoods, Recreation and Parks Committee and emphasized plans to modernize the city's 311 system, sustain community grants through capacity-building, and manage modest reductions largely through vacancies rather than layoffs.
Douglas said requests to the city's 311 system increased ‘‘nearly 50%’’ over the past three years and reported 4,544 service requests (SRs) received between Jan. 25 and the hearing. She said the department will diversify channels — app, email and other digital contacts — so residents can get real‑time updates and so 311 can move toward an 85% calls-answered-in-20-seconds goal that is currently near 60%.
The department framed the cuts as small and targeted. Douglas told…
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