By Gregory Korte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

DOWNTOWN - Rumpke Co. crews will continue to pick up recyclables from Cincinnati's curbs next year under a compromise budget plan all but assured of passing City Council Wednesday.

Finance Committee Chairman John Cranley has put together eight votes for a plan that would restore $1.7 million to fully fund the recycling program. The trade-off: 35 city positions - mostly in middle management - will be eliminated, and non-union city employees will get their raises cut in half, to 1.5 percent. Council will also cut merit increases.

About 150 city workers showed up Monday to protest the elimination of management positions.

Cranley's budget maintains neighborhood development proposals by Mayor Charlie Luken in Bond Hill, College Hill, Corryville, Kennedy Heights, Madisonville and Westwood.

It also adds $2 million in city funding for redevelopment projects in Avondale and Walnut Hills.

Two other projects - $3 million in streetscape improvements on Columbia Parkway and River Road - were axed from the city manager's proposed budget.

The Cranley budget passed the Finance Committee Monday on its way to a Wednesday vote. But for the first time in three years, the budget vote won't be unanimous.

"I wish I could jump in with all the mutual back-slapping and self-congratulation," said Republican Pat DeWine after speech-making by Democratic council members.

"To have a budget that looks like a Christmas tree - where every council member gets to hang their favorite ornament - isn't fiscally responsible."

DeWine blasted City Council "pork" added in the Cranley budget that included:

• $208,000 to continue the "We're On The Move" tourism campaign, requested by Democrat Alicia Reece.

• $10,000 to run each of the city's 34 neighborhood business districts, requested by Democrat Laketa Cole.

• $2,000 for each of the city's 52 community councils, requested by Republican Sam Malone.

• $100,000 for a study of the best views of downtown and how to protect them, requested by Democrat David Crowley.

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E-mail gkorte@enquirer.com