COLUMBUS, Ohio -- No layoffs and the return of rec centers and yard waste pick-up. Those are the highlights of Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman's proposed 2010 city budget.
Coleman released his suggested budget Friday afternoon -- just seven weeks shy of the new year, NBC 4's Patrick Preston reported.
"It's important to remember that we promised our residents that we were going to maintain our city services, not expand them," Coleman said.
The budget is based on revenue estimates that already are off target. The income tax hike passed in August as expected to bring in $90 million to $100 million. Now, the city is only counting on $85 million.
"We will not lay off public safety forces. We will not close any additional rec centers or health centers," Coleman said.
The budget uses federal funds to pay for a police class of 50 recruits beginning in February, but no city funding will be dedicated toward police or fire recruit classes.
Instead, the city will apply for additional federal grant money to pay for a fire recruit class of 25 to 30 workers.
"We're going to aggressively go after grants. We've been successful twice now," said Andrew Ginther, of Columbus City Council.
The budget also calls for the return of yard waste collection on April 15 and for every Columbus recreation center to reopen on a full- or part-time basis by September. Pools that closed will remain closed.
"This budget is still $1 million less than the budget that was adopted two years ago," Coleman said.
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