The Associated Press

COLUMBUS - The state's attorney general and the city's mayor disagree over the need for more police to reduce the potential for disturbances in the Ohio State University campus area.

"Columbus needs to bite the bullet and hire 300 or 400 more police officers and put them on the streets," Attorney General Jim Petro told university trustees last week.

"I just think there's a lack of police and ability of law enforcement in the city of Columbus."

Mayor Michael Coleman said having more officers would be ideal but too expensive.

The city must cut $7.6 million from its budget this month and at least $30 million next year. The city's police and fire divisions make up 70 percent of the 2003 budget.

He said Petro's comments were political and said the attorney general hasn't worked to bring federal and state dollars to Columbus.

Fall quarter classes begin in one week at Ohio State, and officials there are trying to avoid a repeat of the disturbances that have occurred there in recent years after significant football victories.