[{"_1":2,"_105":-5,"_106":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,85,95],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6017066,"mediaKeyId","5778686-1a4f40366d0766304262ddc0571b4f3d","parentId",5778686,"title","Administration proposes $56M in railway trust spending for streets, parks and rec; 51% targeted to lower‑income neighborhoods","audioSeconds",195,"startMs",3789000,"endMs",3984000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5778686-1a4f40366d0766304262ddc0571b4f3d&start=3789&end=3984","thumbnailUrl","https://d352y6ypj4mjo3.cloudfront.net/AudioPlaceholder.png","articleUrl","/articles/6017066/Ohio/Administration-proposes-56M-in-railway-trust-spending-for-streets-parks-and-rec-51-targeted-to-lowerincome-neighborhoods","mediaUrl","author","City Council of Cincinnati OH","date","2025-05-27T00:00:00Z","article","Budget Director Andrew Dudes told the committee that FY26 is the first year of disbursements from the Cincinnati Southern Railway trust and that the administration allocated the initial $56,000,000 to existing city infrastructure projects through the Cinci OnTrack program.

Dudes said streets and bridges receive the largest share (over 62% of the $56,000,000), followed by recreation (about 13.5%), parks (about 12.8%), and public services (about 11.5%). He also told council that 51.4% of recommended Cinci OnTrack spending would occur in neighborhoods with a median household income below $50,000.

Dudes described the railway funds as restricted to existing infrastructure and said the FY26 general capital resources total approximately $129,000,000, with the $56,000,000 trust disbursement representing roughly 43% of that general capital resource in FY26. He also acknowledged that the city retains a substantial deferred maintenance backlog (Dudes cited an estimated $422,000,000 backlog) and said the administration expected the first‑year disbursement to reduce part of that amount, though the march of time and ongoing capital needs will change the total.

Department presentations detailed project priorities and examples. The Department of Transportation and Engineering described a $20,000,000 street rehabilitation slate that combines grinding and paving with preventive maintenance across multiple neighborhoods and called out specific projects including Victory Parkway complete streets and a State-to‑Central corridor that includes a bridge replacement and bike facilities. Recreation and Parks presenters highlighted Dunham Recreation Center planning and renovation, playground and athletic field projects, and several facility rehabilitations.

Ending: The committee accepted the department presentations. Members asked for more granular analyses, including multi‑year pavement funding targets and neighborhood‑level project listings in the capital appendix. Officials said some projects leverage outside grants and federal funding opportunities to increase the scale of work.","mediaType","Audio","parentTitle","Budget & Finance Committee (May 27, 2025)","oneSentenceSummary","The administration proposed using the first $56 million disbursement from the Cincinnati Southern Railway trust to invest in streets, recreation and parks, with a stated priority to direct over half the spending to lower‑income neighborhoods.","taxTitle","Cincinnati Board & Committees, Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio","taxId",75954,"location","Ohio","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":50,"_51":82,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":83,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":84,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6017071,"City fleet: 242 units meet all replacement criteria; administration budgets $10.6M for FY26 but backlog remains",285,2858000,3143000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5778686-1a4f40366d0766304262ddc0571b4f3d&start=2858&end=3143","/articles/6017071/Ohio/City-fleet-242-units-meet-all-replacement-criteria-administration-budgets-106M-for-FY26-but-backlog-remains","Fleet Services Manager Liam Norton told the committee the city manages roughly 2,600 active units and about 1,400 components (under $5,000) and has improved data systems that now track preventive maintenance compliance, utilization and life‑cycle flags.

Norton said the replacement decision uses three criteria — age, mileage and life‑to‑date cost — and that in April the city had 242 units meeting all three flags. Of those, 115 were on order or in procurement; 127 remained with an estimated replacement cost approaching $17,500,000. \"As of April, of this year, we have 242 vehicles that meet all 3 replacement criteria,\" Norton said.

The recommended capital budget allocates $10,600,000 to fleet replacements in FY26 and $13,300,000 in FY27; the administration described $13.3 million as a planning floor for subsequent years. Budget Director Andrew Dudes said future allocations will be reassessed annually against the life‑cycle dashboard and procurement realities.

Committee members pressed on procurement lead times and staffing. Norton gave typical lead times: pickups and passenger vehicles 3–6 months; police vehicles 10–14 months; garbage packers up to 24 months; fire apparatus and medic units 24–36 months from purchase order. Assistant City Manager Kathy Bailey told the committee staffing, procurement delays and parts supply were part of the multi‑faceted problem and that the administration is addressing mechanics staffing, procurement processes and data integration with OPDA.

Public comment raised related audit concerns. Todd Zinsser, a West Price Hill resident, cited an internal audit he said identified more than 680 fleet parts out of lifecycle with replacement cost “over $82,000,000” and urged fixing audit findings before adding additional outside funding.

Ending: Committee members agreed the city has better data and visibility but remains behind on a long‑standing replacement backlog. Members requested more detailed counts and dollar estimates for units meeting two of three flags and encouraged exploring funding options and procurement timing to close the gap more rapidly.","Fleet Services Manager Liam Norton told the Budget and Finance Committee 242 vehicles met the city’s three replacement flags (age, mileage, life‑to‑date cost) and that the FY26 capital budget includes $10.6 million for fleet replacements, leaving an estimated remaining 127 high‑priority replacements with an estimated cost of about $17.5 million.",{"_33":86,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":87,"_41":88,"_43":89,"_45":90,"_47":91,"_49":50,"_51":92,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":93,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":94,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6017076,"City manager presents structurally balanced FY26–27 budget, outlines $56 million railway trust spending plan",3561,1150000,4711000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5778686-1a4f40366d0766304262ddc0571b4f3d&start=1150&end=4711","/articles/6017076/Ohio/City-manager-presents-structurally-balanced-FY2627-budget-outlines-56-million-railway-trust-spending-plan","City Manager Cheryl Long presented the administration’s recommended fiscal 2026–27 biannual spending plan to the Budget and Finance Committee, saying the package “takes care of the city's needs and sets us up for future success” while avoiding one‑time American Rescue Plan dollars. The plan includes $56,000,000 in trust disbursements from the sale of the Cincinnati Southern Railway to fund capital projects.

Budget Director Andrew Dudes told the committee the operating budget aims to return the general fund to recurring balance. “Fiscal year 20 26 is the return to structural balance,” Dudes said, and the administration reported that a combination of revenue adjustments and expenditure reductions narrowed a tentative deficit to $10,200,000.

Why it matters: The recommended budget shifts the city away from one‑time federal funds, increases capital spending on streets and neighborhood facilities, and directs a major new source of capital — railway trust disbursements — toward existing infrastructure. Committee members repeatedly pressed for detail on specific allocations, the pace of repairing deferred maintenance and the budget’s assumptions about revenue growth.

Most of the operating increase is directed at public services and public safety. The city manager cited a 57.1% increase in street rehabilitation funding and additional staffing for the Department of Public Services, plus funding for police and fire recruit classes and a new understudy program for cadets. Dudes said the general fund revenue projection for FY26 is $569,500,000 and that personnel and benefits consume roughly 82% of that total.

The administration described three main balancing steps: an executive finance review that updated revenue and fee schedules, an executive performance review handled by the Office of Performance and Data Analytics, and an executive budget review that combines performance and financial information for allocation decisions. Dudes cited $10,600,000 in additional interest revenue and a variety of targeted revenue increases and expenditure reductions — including vacancy savings, reduced nonpersonnel line items and a $1,200,000 reduction in fire overtime.

Committee members asked for more detail on several items. Vice Mayor Kearney asked how the rising employer pension contribution — moved to 18.5% for FY26 — affects long‑term fiscal goals; Dudes said the contribution follows a multiyear plan. Council Member Seth Walsh asked for a spreadsheet enumerating fee changes to be provided prior to a vote; Dudes said the principal fee in the operating ordinance is a building and inspections increase tied to inflation.

The administration said the budget includes $4,000,000 for leveraged support (reduced by a 2% scenario and some category transfers) and a restructured set of competitive human services programs. Dudes also said the all‑funds operating budget for FY26 is just under $1.3 billion and that capital resources in the general capital budget total approximately $129,000,000, of which the first year railway trust disbursement is $56,000,000.

Ending: Council members acknowledged receipt of the documents Friday before the holiday weekend and said they would continue to review details. The committee filed the budget presentations for further consideration; additional questions and follow‑up opportunities were scheduled next week.","City Manager Cheryl Long and Budget Director Andrew Dudes presented a biannual operating and capital budget to the Budget and Finance Committee that the administration says returns the general fund to structural balance and allocates $56 million from the Cincinnati Southern Railway trust to existing city infrastructure.",{"_33":96,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":97,"_41":98,"_43":99,"_45":100,"_47":101,"_49":50,"_51":102,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":103,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":104,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6017061,"Council OKs transfer to pilot grocery assistance in Winton Hills; program to target food access and basic necessities",217,873000,1090000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5778686-1a4f40366d0766304262ddc0571b4f3d&start=873&end=1090","/articles/6017061/Ohio/Council-OKs-transfer-to-pilot-grocery-assistance-in-Winton-Hills-program-to-target-food-access-and-basic-necessities","Council Member Anna Albee asked the committee to approve a transfer of $250,000 from a general fund discretionary reserve originally set aside for the Financial Freedom initiative to support a grocery assistance pilot in Winton Hills.

Albee described the pilot as having two goals: increase access to groceries and put direct dollars in residents’ hands to stretch grocery budgets. She said city funds would go directly to Winton Hills residents for grocery purchases — including items not eligible for SNAP such as diapers, period products and cleaning supplies — and that a vendor partner would provide delivery. \"This grocery assistance program helps address both by putting real dollars in pockets to help families stretch their budgets and bringing those groceries directly to people's front doors with the assistance of a vendor partner,\" Albee said.

Albee said census data show Winton Hills has roughly three times the city's average food‑insecurity rate and low car ownership, and that the neighborhood council had identified food insecurity as a top priority. The committee agreed to hold item 9 (a related transfer) and put item 10, the $250,000 transfer for the pilot, on for passage; the transcript records that item 9 was indefinitely postponed and item 10 was advanced for passage but does not record a roll‑call vote.

Ending: Albee asked colleagues to support the initial allocation so the administration can proceed with contracting and program implementation; the administration will return with vendor and enrollment details as the program is launched.","Council Member Anna Albee secured committee action to appropriate $250,000 from a reserved balance to a grocery delivery and assistance pilot in Winton Hills designed to increase access and give residents dollars for groceries and basic necessities not covered by SNAP.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Administration proposes $56M in railway trust spending for streets, parks and rec; 51% targeted to lower‑income neighborhoods

City fleet: 242 units meet all replacement criteria; administration budgets $10.6M for FY26 but backlog remains

City manager presents structurally balanced FY26–27 budget, outlines $56 million railway trust spending plan

Council OKs transfer to pilot grocery assistance in Winton Hills; program to target food access and basic necessities