Acting Cincinnati City Manager Patrick Duhaney has released his proposal to close a $32 million general fund budget deficit for the fiscal year that starts July 1.
Duhaney forwarded the budget Thursday to Mayor John Cranley, who will review it, make changes and forward it to council.
The All Funds Operating budget totals $1.1 billion and the capital budget is proposed at $318.5 million.
Duhaney said in a written message to the mayor and council members it was a true balancing act.
"My FY2019 proposed budget prioritizes important services such as police, fire, and public services, avoids furloughs and layoffs, does not close any city health clinic, parks, or recreation facilities," Duhaney wrote. "All this is accomplished while maintaining the city's long-term fiscal stability, and maintaining the city's excellent financial management."
The city manager said the budget was balanced with "targeted and responsible reductions" for city departments, and also by hiking some city fees to increase revenues.
Dunhaney is proposing spending decreases of $24 million to balance the general fund budget. Those include:
- $5 million from shifting a payment to the Cincinnati Public Schools to the capital budget instead of the general fund budget
- $3.6 million by transferring expenditures to other eligible funds and out of the general fund. The reduction "bills back other city funds for direct expenditures related to that fund"
- $3.2 million in "budget target savings" from city departments with budget estimates lower than previously predicted
- $3.2 million by shifting litter pickup and recycling to the stormwater management fund
- $2.5 million in cuts to outside agencies receiving city support. This includes a 25 percent reduction, or more than $500,000, to human services funding and the neighborhood support program (with some exceptions), and a 50 percent reduction to economic development support (see chart below)
- $2.1 million by keeping some city positions vacant in the fiscal year
- $2 million from delaying the start of the next police department recruit training class by six months
- $1.4 million in across-the-board departmental budget reductions
- $500,000 in miscellaneous non-personnel reductions
- $400,000 in fire department overtime reductions
- $100,000 by reducing funds to mayor, city council and clerk of council
Proposed revenue increases total $10.4 million. Those include:
- $4.1 million from increasing building permit fee
- $2.9 million increase from on-street parking operations and higher parking meter rates
- $2 million waste hauler franchise fee increase
- $500,000 from electrical permits, plan reviews and inspections
- $400,000 from "booting" vehicles with three or more unpaid parking tickets (this was proposed last year and rejected by city council)
- $300,000 in new procurement fees
- $100,000 from increased application fee for all economic development projects
- $100,000 from increase Office of Administrative Hearings fee
The proposed budget does include $2.3 million in new spending, with $1 million earmarked for the emergency communications center. Part of that money will pay for 11 new staff members.
City council's Budget and Finance Committee has public hearings set for June 11, 12 and 13.
Council is scheduled to adopt its version of the spending plan June 27.
