Mayor Michael Coleman announced today his proposed 2011 City budget, which will be presented to Columbus City Council for review.
“We will maintain our neighborhood services, protect our quality of life, and practice fiscal responsibility to make our government more efficient and sustainable for the long run” Mayor Coleman said in a press release today. “That’s what our citizens told us they wanted before voting to increase their own income taxes last summer, and that’s what I am proposing to City Council.”
Next year’s budget totals $706 million, up from 2010’s nearly $660 million budget. Over 70 percent of the budget is devoted to the Department of Public Safety, which funds police, fire and other safety and emergency services.
Additional quick breakdown figures are as follows:
- $252 million for the Division of Police
- $200 million for the Division of Fire
- $30.6 million for Refuse Collection and Snow Removal
- $19.4 million for Public Health
- $3.6 million for Housing and Human Services
- $20.6 million for Job Creation and Economic Development
- $28.4 million for Recreation and Parks
Additionally, the city is committed to a 10-Year Reform Plan that will save at least $100 million in staffing and employee costs as well as a program to replenish the Rainy Day Fund.
The full budget can be found online at finance.columbus.gov.