Ginther's 2026 budget proposes hiring for police and fire
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Mayor Andrew Ginther is again pushing to bolster the ranks of Columbus police and firefighters, requesting funding for 120 new officers and 45 new firefighters in his proposed 2026 budget.
Why it matters: Public safety remains the city's biggest use of taxpayer dollars, and Ginther's $1.26 billion proposal signals where he believes staffing gaps and political pressure are most urgent.
Driving the news: Ginther announced his proposed $1.26 billion operating budget Wednesday.
Budget items we're watching:
🚔 More police and fire: Columbus has been trying to fix police and fire staffing shortages for years.
- The proposed budget also ups spending on community programs — like Columbus Humane and Community Crime Patrol — from $3.1 million to $25.2 million.
- Staff increases are a small portion of the nearly $852 million public safety budget, which includes about $286 million for fire emergency services, about $224 million for police patrol and about $56 million for administration.
🏘️ Funds for housing: The budget would fund efforts to stabilize Columbus' housing crisis.
- More than $18 million would be allocated to the newly created Division of Housing Stability.
- The recently launched Resilient Housing Initiative is set to receive $5 million to help low-income renters avoid eviction.
💧 Utility costs: The budget for Columbus Water & Power would continue to increase by millions, reaching more than $951 million in 2026.
- That's a nearly 10% increase from 2025, up more than 40% since 2023.
- Aims include assisting with septic tank replacement, additional connections to the sewer system, expanded street lighting, maintenance of 7,000 miles of underground lines and infrastructure supporting a fourth water plant.
Context: The city's operating budget is separate from its capital improvements budget, which will be bolstered by a voter-approved $1.9 billion bond package.
What's not inside: This budget cycle was expected to be the first to include funds generated by taxes on Ohio's legalized recreational marijuana, scheduled to be distributed to cities in the second half of 2025.
- But the state has yet to release those funds as elected officials mull changes to the law, so Columbus still projects $0 in revenue for 2026.
What's next: City Council will start budget discussions and public hearings and will eventually approve a budget in early 2026.