By Kevin Aldridge
Enquirer staff writer
DOWNTOWN - Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken wants to cut funding to more than a dozen social service agencies in an effort to save $6.5 million and balance the city's budget over the next two years.
In a memo sent to council members Friday, Luken said spending is outpacing income, creating a "structural imbalance" in the city's budget. The mayor said unless "bold action" is taken by council, the city's financial woes would get worse.
The two-year budget Luken is asking council to approve in December would trim about $4.8 million from nearly 100 human service agencies such as the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati, Citizens Committee on Youth, YMCA, YWCA, Talbert House and the Free Store/Food Bank.
Luken said the city can save another $1.7 million by reducing or eliminating money given to several other outside organizations.
"It is no longer affordable or wise for the city to be in the business of funding these agencies to the detriment of core city services," Luken said. "Furthermore, in many instances, these are agencies over which we have no control and about which we know very little."
The mayor's proposal comes just days before voters decide a ballot measure that would phase out the city's 5-mill property tax by 10 percent a year over 10 years.
Luken has said rolling back the tax, and potential state cuts to the local government fund - a pool of money given to cities for basic services - could exacerbate the city's money problems.
State Rep. Tom Brinkman, R-Mount Lookout, a proponent of the ballot measure, said Luken's "doom and gloom" predictions were only meant to scare citizens into voting against the property tax rollback.
Financial forecasts project the city will face an $11.5 million general fund deficit next year. The 2004 general fund budget is $329.6 million.
Luken acknowledged the budget that he is proposing represents "a radical departure" from past practices.
However, the mayor said council must clearly define the city's core services and focus on making them the highest quality. He said his budget - which also includes elimination of merit increases and cuts to council, the mayor and city manager's budgets - reduces spending by more than $16 million annually.
"If council accepts my proposals we will accomplish the goal of balancing the budget while keeping basic services strong," Luken said. "It puts the city on a path toward financial solvency long into the future, wiping out nearly all future projected deficits."
Council has the discretion to approve or reject the mayor's recommendations.
Councilman Christopher Smitherman predicted there would be some jockeying.
"I like the fact that they mayor is saying we're cutting everybody," Smitherman said."We need (spending) discipline down here."
Potential Cuts
Mayor Charlie Luken wants to eliminate funding to more than a dozen social service agencies to help balance the city's budget over the next two years. The following is a partial list of Cincinnati agencies that could be cut or significantly reduced next year:
