By Gregory Korte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The city of Cincinnati will eliminate 19 jobs in the coming weeks in order to pay for City Council's decision to maintain curbside recycling.

All of the positions being eliminated are in middle management, and will save more than $2 million a year.

The Police Department will bear the brunt of the cuts. Five civilian employees - including the director of the Police Academy - will have their positions eliminated and replaced with sworn officers.

Finance Committee Chairman John Cranley promised that the civilian cuts would not affect the department's street strength.

"We are extremely committed not to reduce sworn officers. In fact, we're increasing them," Cranley said. "Just because we're committed to crime fighting doesn't mean that police are exempt from cost savings."

City Council's Finance Committee is expected to approve the cuts today.

Other departments being reorganized to eliminate positions include Public Services, Community Development and Planning, Recreation and Buildings and Inspections.

It's unlikely anyone will be laid off as a result of the cuts. City employees who have their positions eliminated are usually allowed to transfer into vacancies in other city departments, and the city expects some of them to retire.

In addition, eight positions will be transferred out of the general fund, so that their work will be paid for by water and sewer users instead of taxpayers.

---

E-mail gkorte@enquirer.com