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Committee reviews $45.7 million general‑fund adjustment to cover contracts, overtime and one‑time needs
Summary
Staff described a $45.7 million general-fund supplemental need that includes $10.1 million for contract-related items, $10 million for police off‑duty details (offset by revenue), and significant public-safety overtime; council members asked how those figures will affect next year’s budgeting and staff said some costs will be covered from reserves and that the fire department is examining overtime drivers.
City staff presented the final adjustment ordinance for the general fund, describing a supplemental need of about $45.7 million to address contract obligations, public-safety overtime and other one‑time items.
Staff said roughly $10.1 million of the need stems from funds set aside for one‑time contract-related obligations (including Code and AFSCME bargaining-unit contracts and a fire grievance settlement). An additional $10 million was identified for Cincinnati Police Department off‑duty details; staff said those costs are offset by corresponding revenue. The administration also plans to use the weather reserve for one‑time closeout expenses and identify other sources, including an income tax reserve of about $15,389 to be closed out.
Council member Abi asked whether the high overtime figures — cited as approximately $29 million associated with police and $14.7 million associated with fire in questions from council — were expected to recur next fiscal year and how the city planned to address them. Staff clarified that the $29 million referenced the total transfer need and not all of it was overtime; they estimated fire overtime needs closer to $7 million, while police overtime remains higher due in part to staffing shortfalls, event deployments and visibility deployments.
Staff added that the administration is conducting an examination of fire overtime through an overtime task force to identify root causes. The ordinance also includes several transfers and appropriations across departments, a permanentization of a prior fund advance to the parking meter fund and authorization of a new $400,000 fund advance for the same fund. The police department will realign $360,000 to capital for fixed license‑plate reader cameras, and the Office of Environment and Sustainability will return about $131,624 to its capital count for future projects.
Committee members placed the item on for passage after the discussion; staff said further budget monitoring and future budget cycles will address ongoing capital and replenishment needs.
