BY GREGORY A. HALL
The Cincinnati Enquirer
CRESCENT SPRINGS -- For one of the Crescent Springs' feuding factions, a $700,000 loan in the proposed budget is the price of progress. To a group of residents, it's fiscal mismanagement.
Crescent Springs Council will vote Monday on a $1.4 million budget for the next year that calls for a $700,000 loan. City leaders say the money is needed for a controversial park project and a drainage repair on Western Reserve Road.
The residents, generally the same people who opposed the park, say the loans could mean future tax increases if the city can't pay off the loan.
"To me this is absolutely staggering," Crescent Springs resident John Mullen said. "We consider this type of borrowing to be irresponsible."
Mr. Mullen and resident Jim Collett, both of whom were vocal during the park debate, have filed as council candidates in this fall's election. A third resident, Roger Ramsey, also has filed. Loans are not unusual, city administrator and former mayor George Stewart said. Two years ago, the city borrowed $700,000 to buy land for the park at Collins Road and Buttermilk Pike.
The group of residents and the majority of council argued for months as negotiations ultimately failed between Crescent Springs and Villa Hills to pay for the park jointly.
The split reached its worst when council members supported putting a nursing home on land that they say should have gone only to park use. City officials abandoned the nursing home plan.
The proposed loan will cover $350,000 for site preparation, a parking lot and entrance road, utilities, restrooms, a picnic shelter and a children's playground.
"There's no way we can build a park out of current tax revenues," Mr. Stewart said.
The rest of the money will be used for a drainage improvement along Western Reserve Road, one of the busiest county roads.
Mr. Stewart defended the soundness of the city budget by pointing out that Crescent Springs was able to absorb the Dixie Police Authority, which disbanded this year, and the loss of $42,000 a year from Bromley for the authority without layoffs.
He said the city's general fund contingency money will never dip below $340,000 during the next three years.
"You can never go into something with a zero contingency, because you never know what can happen," he said.
