Council Passes 2017 Operating Budget including Amendments
[COLUMBUS-OH]
Columbus City Council passed the 2017 Operating Budget including Council
amendments on Monday, February 6, 2017, during the seventh regular Council
meeting of the new year.
Strong
fiscal management and oversight resulted in over $3.2 million in
additional funding. Council intends to use this savings to improve the
quality of life for all residents.
The
amendments to the 2017 Operating Budget include the following highlights:
- An additional $500,000 deposit to the City’s Rainy Day
Fund, for a total deposit of $2.7 million. This keeps the City on
track to reach a balance of $75 million by 2018.
- A deposit of $250,000 to the Basic City Services
Fund, providing additional protection for essential City
services, including public safety and street maintenance.
- $2.5 million will be transferred to the Council
Initiatives Fund to improve
safety, focus on economic development and neighborhood health.
"Our
budget priorities are rooted in community dialogue and participation. Columbus
is a diverse city, and we recognize there are some needs that require special
attention," said Council President Zach
Klein.
"These
are bold initiatives. We are focused on developing policies and initiatives
that uplift every resident and build a stronger Columbus," Klein
continued.
"We
continue to identify issues in our City, and through collaboration and
investment we can enhance the quality of life for all our residents,"
said Pro Tem Priscilla Tyson, chair of the Finance Committee.
"Our community is looking for our leadership to improve safety, focus on
economic development and neighborhood health.”
Council
is utilizing three funds to organize amendment dollars, the Jobs Growth Fund,
Neighborhood Initiatives Fund and Public Safety Initiatives Fund, to prioritize
the spending of resources during the next year.
One
major area of focus will be enacting the recommendations of the Local Food
Action Plan. Councilmembers adopted the plan in November 2016.
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