Wednesday, December 29, 1999
Portune: Transfer funds to fix roads
Amount of work done disputed
BY ROBERT ANGLEN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Budget cuts are being proposed as a way to fix 358 miles of Cincinnati roads that the city paid $15 million to repair but never completed.
Councilman Todd Portune said Tuesday he wants to make a 5 percent “across the board” cut to the city's $106 million capital budget, which pays for park improvements, traffic signals, housing programs and other infrastructure improvements.
That would free up $4 million for road repairs in addition to the $11 million he said is budgeted for 2000. Another $1.2 million could go to fund new housing developments.
The move comes two weeks after the City Council passed its 2000 budget, when Mr. Portune first proposed the same cuts. Then it was to trim city expenditures, he said; now it is because the city's roads are in a crisis.
“We need to take drastic measures,” Mr. Portune said. “We knew the roads weren't getting better. The audit suggests we are in a crisis situation.”
An internal audit last week found city engineers for seven years misrepresented the cost and amount of road repair work getting done annually. Between 1991 and 1997, engineers reported 818 miles of road work was done for about $65 million. The audit found 460 miles was done for about $50.5 million.
While city officials directed the internal auditor to determine who is responsible — and have asked the county prosecutor to look into any wrongdoing — Transportation Director John Deatrick said the problems stem from a lack of communication between work crews on the street and city engineers.
Deputy City Manager Richard Mendes, who was chairman of the committee that came up with next year's capital projects list, said a 5 percent cut could mean some projects won't get done.
“Either you can build something or you can't with that money (budgeted),” he said, adding that if the council wants to cut, then some projects will likely be delayed.
Mr. Portune said the 5 percent cut would not kill any project. He said all of the projects have a built-in “fudge factor” that would offset any reduction.
Mayor Charlie Luken said Tuesday that Mr. Portune is “on the right track.”
He said the council will put a significant amount into additional road repairs next year but doesn't know where the money will come from yet. Other sources might include money not spent in 1999, restructuring the city's debts and additional income tax revenue the city receives.
“The idea that 60 percent of our streets are in an unsatisfactory condition is something we must change,” he said.
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