1.22.10
Are Your City Income Taxes Helping To Increase Public Safety?
By: Mike Bowersock - www.NBC4i.com
When voters passed the city income tax increase last summer, they were told it was for city services with a strong emphasis on public safety.

The increase helped to generate more than $18 million for the city.

NBC 4 reported Wednesday that $2.2 million was being given to the Columbus Division of Fire, but there are other unexpected dollars that will go to other city services.

NBC 4 got answers on where the rest of the millions will be going and whether those choices benefit the city’s citizens.

For example, the Community Shelter Board, 111 Liberty St., which helps the homeless, is getting $360,000.

The Columbus Cultural Leadership Consortium, which represents the arts such as BalletMet Columbus, is getting $300,000.

The Franklin Park Conservatory is getting $250,000.

“The restoration of this funding for the conservatory will allow us to fill unfilled positions,“ Executive Director Bruce Harkey said.

Is this what the voters wanted, though? What do the arts, BalletMet Columbus and Franklin Park Conservatory have to do with helping the city right now?

That question was presented to Columbus City Councilman Andrew Ginther Thursday night.

The city said maintaining a healthy arts and creative community means billions of dollars to a community.

“What they help us with right now is helping create the environment and leveraging the economic development taking place throughout Central Ohio,“ Ginther said.

In other words, the city believes if Columbus is a nice place to live, it creates employment, which is key to a safer city.

Speaking of jobs, TechColumbus is getting $250,000, part of which will be used to help people who have an idea start a business.

“It gives us the very early stage investment money that we need to help the most promising companies get started, set up and developing the product or go to market strategy,“ CEO of TechColumbus Ted Frank said.

FULL LIST OF DEPARTMENTS & FUNDING

Uniformed Fire Personnel: $2,193,216

Community Shelter Board: $360,000

Economic Development Plan: $325,000

Columbus Cultural Leadership Consortium: $300,000

Recreation and Parks Restoration: $263,000

Franklin Park Conservatory: $250,000

TechColumbus: $250,000

Human Services Restoration: $126,000

Franklin County Municipal Court Clerk of Courts: $100,000

Franklin County Municipal Court: $100,000

Office of Minority Health: $80,000

Community Crime Patrol: $78,000

Amethyst: $65,472

Ohio Small Business Development Center: $60,000

Development Department Staff Restorations: $55,165

Somali Community Association of Ohio: $50,000

Central Ohio Crime Stoppers: $25,397

Access Health Columbus: $15,000

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