Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther announced a record $1.3 billion city operating budget proposal for 2027 on Thursday, which he said is the result of growing costs for the city.
Nearly $900 million of the budget is allocated to police and fire operations, including training and hiring more than 100 new firefighters and more than 100 new police officers. While doing this, the city is trying to keep a costly public safety overtime budget the same this year.
The city expects to spend $44 million on overtime for public safety, which would keep costs flat from this year. The highest paid city employee is Adam Banks, a Columbus police officer who made more than $311,000, mostly due to working a large amount of overtime.
Ginther spoke about the wider budget at the Linden Community Center Thursday, while outlining his proposal. Meanwhile, a fight with city council to fund this budget looms.
Ginther said he plans to veto council legislation that limits his use of an income tax fund to fill holes in this budget. This is typically used for future capital projects, not the operating budget.
"I think it is a move that is unnecessary and puts future mayors and councils in a real bind. In essence, it will require a $5 million reduction out of the general fund budget. My guess is Chief (Elaine) Bryant would like a third police class. My guess is Shannon Isom at the (Community) Shelter Board would like to be able to help serve more people," Ginther said.
This year's budget includes funding for two Columbus police classes and three Columbus fire classes. Funding for the Community Shelter Board remains the same.
Both the mayor and council want to avoid a deficit, but Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin disagrees with using this tool as a way to solve the problem and still adequately fund city services.
Hardin said in a statement that council will hold public hearings and may amend the budget to avoid a deficit and wants to fully fund city services while being fiscally responsible.
The city council has traditionally amended the budget to provide more funding for the Community Shelter Board and the program called the Columbus Promise, which gives free tuition to Columbus City School graduates who want to attend Columbus State Community College.
Under Ginther's proposal, the Columbus Promise currently has $1 million in funding.
Despite voters asking the city to fully fund an alternative to policing, Ginther's record budget proposal won't increase funding.
In May, voters passed a charter amendment that fully established a team of social workers and EMTs who will respond to non-violent emergency calls like mental health crises and substance abuse.
As the city faces a tough budget year, Ginther is only allocating $6 million compared to more than $7 million last year. That's comparatively low when looking at funding for the rest of the city's public safety funding.
"We think this is gonna more fully complement our emergency response over time. We wanna get it right. And we wanna look at what has worked around the country and quite honestly, what has not worked," Ginther said.
Ginther said the city is still committed to expanding this team, and he believes the city is doing more than its peers to fund alternative crisis response.
Hardin suggested city council could add more funding for this team when it amends the budget.
While the city faces financial headwinds this year, Ginther expressed some hope for the future. He pointed to the election of Governor-elect Amy Acton, a Democrat who beat Republican Vivek Ramaswamy earlier this month.
"We have achieved historic progress, even with the headwinds at the Statehouse. Imagine what's possible when we have a willing partner who thinks that the past, present and future of Ohio runs through Ohio's cities," Ginther said.
