Columbus, Ohio Mayor Andrew Ginther announced a record $1.3 billion city operating budget proposal for 2027 on Thursday during a press conference at the Linden Community Center, citing escalating operational costs across the city.

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Nearly $900 million of the proposed spending plan—representing close to 70% of Columbus’ overall operating expenditures—is earmarked for police and fire operations. The funds would support the hiring and training of more than 100 new police officers and over 100 new firefighters across two Columbus Division of Police recruit classes and three Columbus Division of Fire recruit classes.

The administration plans to hold public safety overtime spending flat at $44 million. Overtime has been a major expenditure for the city; Columbus police officer Adam Banks was recognized as the highest-paid city employee after earning more than $311,000, driven largely by overtime pay.

The proposal has also created friction between the mayor‘s office and Columbus City Council. Ginther announced he intends to veto council legislation that limits the city from tapping an income tax fund, traditionally designated for capital improvements, to bridge gaps in the operating budget. According to Ginther, the council’s restriction would force a $5 million reduction from the general fund, impacting municipal priorities like homeless services and additional police recruiting.

Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin expressed opposition to using the capital income tax fund to solve operational shortfalls. Hardin noted that council members intend to hold public hearings and could introduce amendments to balance the budget, safeguard city services, and prevent a deficit.

Funding for non-traditional public safety initiatives also saw adjustments. An alternative crisis response unit consisting of social workers and emergency medical technicians, approved by voters in May to respond to non-violent emergency calls involving substance abuse and mental health crises, was allocated $6 million. That marks a reduction from more than $7 million provided the previous year. Ginther stated that the administration remains dedicated to refining and expanding the program carefully over time.

Elsewhere in the proposal, funding for the Community Shelter Board remained flat, while the Columbus Promise initiative, which supports tuition-free attendance at Columbus State Community College for graduates of Columbus City Schools, received $1 million.

Addressing the broader economic pressures facing the city, Ginther noted optimism regarding future state partnerships following the gubernatorial election victory of Democrat Amy Acton over Republican Vivek Ramaswamy.

Source: WOSU — Original report

Wararka Af-Soomaaliga

Duqa Columbus oo Soo Bandhigay Miisaaniyad Rikoor ah oo Gaareysa $1.3 Bilyan

Duqa magaalada Columbus, Ohio, Andrew Ginther, ayaa xarunta Linden Community Center kaga dhawaaqay hindise miisaaniyadeed oo rikoor ah oo gaaraya $1.3 bilyan oo loogu talagalay hawlgallada magaalada ee sanadka 2027, isaga oo sabab uga dhigay kharashaadka adeegyada dowladda hoose oo si xawli ah u kordhaya.

Ku dhowaad $900 milyan oo ka mid ah miisaaniyadda la soo jeediyay—taas oo u dhiganta ku dhowaad 70% kharashaadka guud ee hawlgallada magaalada—ayaa si toos ah loogu qoondeeyay waaxyaha booliska iyo dab-demiska. Dhaqaalahan ayaa wax looga qaban doonaa tababarka iyo shaqaaleysiinta in ka badan 100 sarkaal oo boolis cusub ah iyo in ka badan 100 dab-demiye, iyadoo loo qaybin doono labo fasal oo cusub oo loogu talagalay ciidanka booliska (Columbus Division of Police) iyo saddex fasal oo dab-demiska ah (Columbus Division of Fire).

Maamulka ayaa sidoo kale qorsheynaya in kharashka saacadaha dheeraadka ah (overtime) ee amniga dadweynaha lagu hayo $44 milyan, taas oo la mid ah tii sanadkii hore. Kharashaadka saacadaha dheeraadka ah ayaa culeys weyn ku haya maaliyadda magaalada; sarkaalka booliska ee Adam Banks ayaa noqday shaqaalaha ugu mushaharka badan magaalada kadib markii uu qaatay in ka badan $311,000, lacagtaas oo badankeed ka timid saacadaha dheeraadka ah ee uu shaqeeyay.

Qorshahan miisaaniyadeed ayaa dhalisay khilaaf u dhexeeya duqa magaalada iyo Golaha Magaalada Columbus (Columbus City Council). Ginther ayaa sheegay inuu diidmada qayaxan (veto) ku dhufan doono sharci uu goluhu soo saaray oo xaddidaya isticmaalka sanduuqa canshuurta dakhliga ee loogu talagalay mashaariicda dhismaha waaweyn, si aan loogu daboolin nusqaanta miisaaniyadda hawlgalka. Ginther waxa uu sheegay in go’aanka goluhu uu qasbi doono dhimis dhan $5 milyan oo laga jaro miisaaniyadda guud, taasoo caqabad ku noqon karta qorshayaasha kordhinta ciidanka booliska iyo gargaarka hoylaawayaasha.

Guddoomiyaha Golaha Magaalada, Shannon Hardin, ayaa kasoo horjeestay tallaabada lagu adeegsanayo lacagaha mashaariicda si loo daboolo kharashaadka maalinlaha ah. Hardin ayaa sheegay in goluhu qaban doono dhageysi dadweyne isla markaana ay wax ka beddeli karaan miisaaniyadda si looga fogaado hoos-u-dhac dhaqaale, iyadoo la ilaalinayo adeegyada asaasiga ah ee dadweynaha.

Dhanka kale, kooxda gurmadka degdegga ah ee ka kooban shaqaalaha arrimaha bulshada iyo kalkaaliyeyaasha caafimaadka—kuwaas oo bishii Maajo codbixiyayaashu u meelmariyeen inay ka jawaabaan xaaladaha aan rabshadaha wadan sida dhibaatooyinka caafimaadka maskaxda—ayaa loo qoondeeyay $6 milyan, taasoo hoos uga dhacday in ka badan $7 milyan oo sanadkii hore la siiyay. Ginther ayaa xusay in maamulku weli ka go’an tahay horumarinta barnaamijkan muddo ka dib.

Barnaamijyada kale ee bulshada, hay’adda Community Shelter Board ayaa loo daayay miisaaniyaddii hore, halka barnaamijka Columbus Promise, ee waxbarashada bilaashka ah ku siiya ardayda ka qalin-jabisa Columbus City Schools ee dhigta jaamacadda Columbus State Community College, loo qoondeeyay $1 milyan.

Isagoo eegaya xaaladda guud ee dhaqaalaha, Ginther ayaa rajo fiican ka muujiyay mustaqbalka wadashaqeynta maamulka gobolka, isaga oo tixraacay guushii doorashada Guddoomiyaha Gobolka ee Amy Acton oo ka tirsan Xisbiga Dimuqraadiga, taas oo ka guuleysatay musharraxii Xisbiga Jamhuuriga Vivek Ramaswamy.

Xigasho: WOSU