Cincinnati Council's Budget and Finance Committee holds a second public hearing Thursday evening on the city manager's proposed 2016-2017 biennial budget.
Just a handful of residents showed up Wednesday evening for the first hearing at the Sayler Park Recreation Center. Only three people offered testimony on the spending plan.
Two of the speakers and several Council Members want more city funding for human services programs, or social service agencies that help the homeless and those dealing with substance abuse issues.
"I hope you will continue to prioritize some of the less fortunate people in our community," said Neil Tilow, who is the President and CEO of Talbert House. "You look at the heroin epidemic in our community, you look at infant mortality, you look at childhood poverty, all these things that were mentioned all get addressed in human services."
All nine Council Members signed a motion late last year directing the city administration to increase funding for human services from the current $1.5 million to $3 million for the budget that takes effect July 1st. That money is distributed through the United Way, which has a contract with the city to manage the funding.
But city administrators did not increase the funding for the United Way process despite the request from Council. That frustrates member Chris Seelbach.
"I know that you can explain this in a way that says human services is not being cut because you've put other initiatives under human services to look like it hasn't been cut," Seelbach said. "But the truth is the United Way agency funding is not being increased."
The city's budget director acknowledged Wednesday night that funding for the United Way process did not increase. But he said there is $400,000 of new human service funding. That includes $250,000 for the Center for Closing the Health Gap and an additional $150,000 for the Cincinnati Initiative to Reduce Violence, or CIRV.
"Funding has increased in terms of human services each year," said City Manager Harry Black addressing the issue. "We'll probably disagree in terms of the makeup of that funding. But in fact the funding levels have increased."
Council Member Yvette Simpson chairs the committee responsible for human services funding. She and Vice Mayor David Mann worked on the plan to increase funding to $3 million in the new fiscal year and target that money to efforts to reduce homelessness and to increase employment opportunities. Funding for violence reduction efforts would be temporarily suspended while such programs are reviewed.
"That we truly make human services a priority," Simpson said. "If nine members of Council are willing to put their political will behind supporting an increase of $1.5 million, that we try to at least to get close to that number."
The definition of what is human services funding and what should be included in that definition will likely be an ongoing debate during Council's budget deliberations.
The city manager's two-year budget totals $2.1 billion for all funds. He told the audience it is focused on five areas: safer streets; thriving and healthy neighborhoods; a growing economy; innovative government; and fiscal sustainability and strategic investment.
The budget proposal would also increase the city's debt load to increase funding to the capital budget to repave and repair city streets and to update the city's aging vehicle fleet.
Council is expected to vote on a final budget plan June 17th.
The second public hearing Thursday evening will be held at the Roselawn Athletic Center, 2026 Seymour Ave., from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
