Tuesday, December 02, 2008

City says “bye-bye” to half a million, amidst budgetary crisis

Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati

Photo courtesy of here.

As everyone knows, facing a national economic crisis, a County economic crisis, and a City economic crisis—further exasperated by the tenuous City retirement system—the City of Cincinnati needs to start tightening the belt to stay solvent.  So how does half a million dollars sound?  Is that a significant amount of money?  In Mayor Mallory’s recommendations to the 2009-2010 budget, he has several line items that are near this dollar amount.  Why, then, should the City throw that much money away into a pointless system that benefits no one in particular?

If you haven’t guessed, I’m talking about the strong mayor primary election that will happen in September—an election for the City of Cincinnati alone that has never included any other item than a run-off for the mayoral candidates.  We asked John Williams at the Hamilton County Board of Elections how much this special primary will cost for the election of the 2009 mayor.

“A rough estimate for the mayoral primary is approximately $550,000,” stated Williams. 

In Mallory’s budget recommendations, he wants to eliminate the gas light fee that had some City residents upset by the extra expenditure.  That would have generated $100,000 annually.  In other words, less than the price of this pointless, special election.

It costs approximately $340,000 to keep the pools and recreation centers open.  That costs less than one expensive and obscure special primary for the mayoral race.

Here’s how ridiculous our system has become:  mayoral candidates run all summer, and then face off in a September primary about which most people know nothing.  The top two vote earners then face off for the November general election.  By why waste all this money for the extra step?  Why not just have all the candidates face off in the general election?  This will still result in the direct election of a strong mayor!

Mallory wants to create a Co-op Coordinator position to help the future of City government.  He says it will cost $61,000.  In other words, one excessive and bloated mayoral primary costs what could fund that position for eight years.

To save money, Mallory wants to cut $30,000 to the Cincinnati Arts Consortium.  But cutting the mayoral primary could provide that level of funding for over a decade!

Starting to get the picture?

Now, getting rid of this would be rather simple.  City Council places it on the November ballot and we get rid of it, saving this money from now on.  Why wouldn’t the City do this?  It is the fiscally responsible thing to do for the long-term health of Cincinnati.

Socializer!

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Curious George says:
02 Dec 2008  at  07:00 pm | #

What about this nugget - I’d like to know why Mayor Mallory has an extra $50k tucked in the budget for another staffer in his office? Isn’t eight enough? Want to know where your Arts money is going, well there you go.

Anon says:
02 Dec 2008  at  10:56 pm | #

Boo-Hoo. You aren’t getting PR and we are having this election. Move if you don’t like it.

says:
03 Dec 2008  at  05:38 am | #

The PR campaign had nothing to say about the election of Mayor.  Get a grip.  Do you even know what you are talking about?

But during the PR campaign, they said it was expensive and confusing.  So is the obscure strong mayor primary.

Move if I don’t like it?  No.  Work for change.

says:
03 Dec 2008  at  12:28 pm | #

Jeff Berding’s special election is inefficient and undemocratic. Of course our public servants will want to keep it. Why cut something wasteful and burdensome to the public when you can cut basic human services instead?

Gerald says:
03 Dec 2008  at  06:31 pm | #

Citizens keep electing Jeff Berding so he must be doing something right. Why don’t you guys focus on serious issues like fighting crime and removing blight from neighborhoods?

says:
03 Dec 2008  at  10:27 pm | #

Yeah, Berding raises hundreds of thousands of dollars in corporate campaign contributions by forwarding the corporate agenda.

If council wasn’t wasting so much money there would be more resources to tackle more problems. That was the point of the Dean’s article. Wasted tax dollars are a serious issue. Why don’t you think about that?

Burkian Oracle says:
04 Dec 2008  at  12:29 am | #

Berding carries water for Bengals and cronies where it matters to the Browns, Castellinis, Bedinghaus, Weiland, several Lindners and Chairman Burke. He embraces their detractors then takes over the woes and brings home the bacon for his contributers. Cannot fault that. He’s a good confidence man who is back to acquiring religion. Carries for the higher ups in the country club set. Burke saved Berdass during last council cycle so JB does what he can to make Burke deals comfortable for all concerned. Nice looking snake. Lethal bite for taxpayers. The great compromiser.

Dems who chastised Berd as not being a Dem two years ago and now are under the monetary spell of getting their pet projects done. Freeman McNeal and his run for any seat shows local party still has hacks. Berding’s mentoring is just dollarwise and not real support. That’s reserved for his pockets.

Monzel is the councilmember that keeps his involvement close in community and may not always win fans with cuts. He does make sense and does not run from confrontation. Pay attention to what he’s accomplished and his work on adds and cuts.

says:
04 Dec 2008  at  02:29 am | #

Gerald why do people always tell others what they should do?  Why don’t you?  Why don’t you focus on crime and cleanig up neighborhoods? Why don’t you!?

Sounds too much like right. Right?  Everybody has a cause (or they should).

Not an attack Gerald, just wondering why don’t you?!