NBC 4 Investigates: What Is A ‘Minor’ Crime?

COLUMBUS, Ohio—Raise income taxes or cut public safety jobs. That’s the choice Columbus city leaders have told voters they must make when they vote in August.

City leaders expect Columbus will be more than $100 million in debt next year if the tax increase doesn’t pass. Public safety accounts for nearly $3 our of every $4 spent, so if that holds true and the city had to cut $100 million from the operating budget while avoiding public safety cuts, entire departments would likely disappear.

Nearly 300 officers would be cut and officials said minor crimes would take a back seat. But what qualifies as a minor crime?

Columbus Police Chief Walter Distelzweig painted a disturbing picture of city life in 2010 if the income tax increase doesn’t pass and police have to prioritize calls more than ever before.

Northeast Columbus homeowner Tom Evans says his neighborhood has seen more than it’s fair share of so-called minor crimes. He thinks every crime needs some level of police involvement if only to deter repeat criminals.

“I think crime is crime and if they know that you’re not going to do anything about it, it’s going to increase,“ Evans said.

Nalene Jenkins said she knows the importance of a police response firsthand, after she had to make what could be considered a minor call to resolve a domestic argument. She said she’s just glad the police came.

“It very well could have escalated to something more serious than just a simple argument,“ Jenkins said.

Both Jenkins and Evans said they would support the income tax increase over losing officers from the streets, and Evans said it’s hard enough with the current number of officers to get a crime solved.

“We had fingerprints on the window where the guy broke in and they wouldn’t even take the fingerprints and try to find out who it was,“ Evans said.

Distelzweig said there is no list of minor crimes, adding that it’s all a plan and much could change.

RELATED: Columbus Police Priority List

WHAT ABOUT OTHER OPTIONS?

Many citizens have said they don’t want to pay more in taxes and don’t want police jobs cuts. Is it possible?

Republican city council candidate Roseann Hicks said the city doesn’t need to cut police and fire, claiming there are other places to trim.

“If we’re hurting as far as our operations, maybe we need to direct for the time being, some of the capital funds into the general fund,“ Hicks said.

But Columbus Finance Director Joel Taylor said that what Hicks wants isn’t possible.

“There’s nothing there to use on operating expenses,“ Taylor said.

Taylor explained that almost all capital budget money is tied up paying off past projects that are either under way or already built.

“It’s obligated to pay already to pay the interest and principal on those bonds,“ Taylor said.

So what about avoiding police and fire cuts? NBC 4 asked Taylor if other departments could be leaner instead of public safety.

“If we tried to absorb that cut everywhere but in the police and fire divisions, we’d essentially close down every other department in the city. We’d have no public health services. We’d have no recreation and parks facilities. We’d have no pick up of refuse. We would literally have no other city services,“ Taylor said.

Hicks also suggested the city not spend money to tear down City Center mall. Taylor insisted that no city dollars are being spent on it.

If you have suggestions for how the city should save money, email and NBC 4 will investigate them.

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