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Resident urges clearer reporting on railroad trust funds, criticizes 90-day lag
Summary
Todd Zinsser told the Cincinnati finance committee the city should report railroad trust funds more frequently and show movement from the trust into the investment pool, saying a 90-day reporting lag undermines transparency and the voter-approved street-restricted purpose.
Todd Zinsser, a West Price Hill resident, told the Cincinnati City Council finance committee that the city's finance reports lag and obscure the status of railroad trust funds. "It just seems like you should be able to get 1, I don't know, in 30 days or 45 days. But to 90 days seems seems long," Zinsser said, urging more frequent summaries.
Zinsser said his review of the monitoring report showed "no mention whatsoever" of where railroad money is held and said his understanding is that the funds are placed in the city's investment pool. He said the city should show the transfer of money "from the trust fund into the city, into the investment pool," report realized earnings from investment of those funds, and make clear where the money is spent so that the voters' street-restricted purpose is respected.
The committee did not debate the request during the meeting; the chair moved on to the regular agenda after public comment. The administration did present the finance and budget monitoring report later in the meeting but the record does not include a direct response to Zinsser's request during the public-comment period.
Next steps: Zinsser's remarks were made during public comment; committee members did not commit to a schedule or a specific follow-up during this meeting.
