Police, IT among Ginther's 2025 budget priorities
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Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther recently released his proposed 2025 general fund budget outlining a new city spending record at $1.23 billion.
Why it matters: The budget, funded largely by income and property taxes, pays for essential services and funds city staff, housing projects, grants, improved IT infrastructure and more.
💨 The intrigue: Columbus now generates revenue from a tax on legal marijuana sales, which began in August.
- The city expects to bring in $8 million in 2025 and more in future years.
Budget items we're watching:
🚔 Increased police and fire staff. Ginther aims to add 180 police officers and 45 firefighters as part of $774 million in public safety spending, which represents the vast majority of the budget.
- The budget allocates enough for 2,117 uniformed officers, up from 1,980 in the 2024 budget.
- Other police investments include $840,000 for controversial ShotSpotter technology, $2.9 million for body cameras, and another $2.9 million for a "Safe Streets" bike patrol.
💻 Bolstering IT. After a summer cyberattack resulted in compromised data for thousands of residents, the mayor is seeking an additional $1.6 million to fund 25 new staffers for IT infrastructure and data management.
- "This year taught us that investing for a growing city means investing in our digital infrastructure as well as our physical infrastructure," Ginther wrote in his budget statement.
🏠 Combatting homelessness. The budget proposes a $1.4 million increase (up to nearly $6 million) in funding for "homeless prevention" initiatives aimed at meeting housing needs.
What's next: Columbus City Council will start budget deliberations, hold public hearings and eventually approve an amended budget in early 2025.