Voters Want Accountability On How Issue 1 Money Is Spent

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- With the passage of Issue 1 Tuesday night, Columbus voters agreed to raise their income tax from 2 percent to 2.5 percent, but it was not a landslide vote. Issue 1 passed by a 52-48 margin. And now the question turns to how the city of Columbus will spend the more than $90 million in projected new income tax revenue.

"I hope they'll be able to continue with fire, police protection, and trash," said Columbus resident Frank Coulson.

City leaders including Mayor Michael Coleman and City Council President Mike Mentel have pledged to honor their campaign commitments in how Issue 1 money is spent.

"We are going to be making sure that the money now entrusted to us to maintain our city services are going to go to those basic services," Mentel said. "That is, no police or firefighter layoffs, to make sure we maintain health service and health provisions that we have to the community."

Trash collection and parks and recreation also will be spared further cuts and may see service restorations, including eight recreation centers closed earlier this year for budgetary reasons.

"I certainly hope they're going to start to reopen them, the kids need it. There's enough trouble on the streets without having a place to go and this may help a lot," said Alex Kushkin, Columbus resident.

The new revenue stream could very well lead to new police and fire recruit classes, as both departments prepare for nearly 200 retirements over the next two years. Additional monies are likely to fund the
purchase of 100 new police cruisers.

Mayor Coleman's Spokesperson Dan Williamson, told NBC 4 the mayor was unavailable Wednesday to discuss whether his security detail of three full-time police officers would be down-sized. A public safety spokesperson says the staffing decision is being evaluated. Voters say they want accountability for how every dollar is spent.

"I just think we should have some oversight people to look over where the funding is going and make sure it's going to the right direction," said Denise Carey, Columbus resident.

As of Wednesday afternoon, firefighters had yet to ask the city to reinstate the four percent raises they collectively gave up earlier this year. With new revenue coming in, such a move is considered likely by many observers.

NBC 4 placed several calls to local firefighters union president Jack Reall, but was unable to reach him Wednesday for comment.

WHAT DOES PASSAGE MEAN FOR THE CITY?

The half-percent hike should generate an estimated $90 million in annual revenue for the city.

The budget deficit for the city is $115 million, and it was expected the early collection of the income-tax increase would help close that gap.

Yard waste removal will be restored by next spring, when there is the highest demand, officials said.

During budget cuts, 11 city recreation centers were closed. Some of them will reopen. The decision on which centers will return will be determined by using the same process used to determine which ones closed. It is likely that not all centers will be reopened.

All non-uniformed city employees will still have to take five furlough days through the end of the year.

Firefighters can now ask to have their raises restored and the city will have to comply. But because they gave up the raises voluntarily, the request is not expected to happen anytime soon.

The mayor's office is in the process of drafting the budget for 2010, which is due before council by November 15.

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