Forget Peter and Paul — Madisonville residents say they're being robbed to pay College Hill.

        And to make matters worse, the perpetrator is the Cincinnati Recreation Commission, which wants to take $1 million for a community center planned in Madisonville to complete one in College Hill.

        “Aside from the inappropriateness of this request, it's unsound fiscal practice,” said Marquita McLean, chairwoman of the Madisonville Community Recreation Committee. “The community objects to it and rejects it.”

        She said Tuesday there is no guarantee the money would ever be returned and asked Cincinnati City Council members to reject the plan.

        College Hill residents told the council's Finance Committee that they don't want to take anything away from Madisonville, but said the city has a responsibility to build a community center on the west side of town this year.

        “We've been waiting over 25 years,” said Jim Bodmer, president of the College Hill Community Council. “We have absolutely no place.”

        Last week, recreation officials told the finance committee they needed an additional $976,000 to pay for the $4.5 million College Hill center.

        Now they are saying the bids for a portion of the center must be redone and final costs could change.

        Recreation Superintendent Nathaniel Wilkins blamed overruns on escalating construction costs and the addition of an indoor running track.

        But in a January letter to council members, recreation officials said they could pay increases out of the existing project budget and any additional funds needed could be achieved through community fund-raisers.

        The Finance Committee took no action Tuesday, saying it would wait for the new numbers to come in.

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