Council gives initial approved for 2019 Columbus budget

Columbus’ proposed budget for 2019 passed first reading at Tuesday night’s city council meeting. The council approved the nearly $61 million proposal unanimously.

Jamie Brinegar, the city’s director of finance, explained that the proposed 2019 budget is 4.3 percent higher than 2018’s budget. He explains that the lion’s share of that increase is due to the new local income tax passed by the Bartholomew County Council. Brinegar says this increased funding will allow the city to lower the property tax burden in the coming years.

Of the total 2019 proposed budget, $20.8 million will be used for public safety needs, $9.9 million would go to public works for things like engineering and public transportation, while $4.9 million will go to projects to improve roads throughout the city. Brinegar noted the city’s good financial position, pointing out that only $1.4 million will go towards debt service, a marked decrease from the 2018 budget. Other highlights he mentioned include the hiring of two additional School Resource Officers for coverage at middle schools, increasing employee salaries as the new salary study suggested. Brinegar noted that the school resource officers will be reimbursed by BCSC. As for the salary adjustments, eligible public safety officers will see an increase taking them to 50 percent of the “mid-point” of the new salary ranges. Eligible civilian employees will see increases to take them to one-third on the “mid-point” for their salary ranges.

Frank Miller, council president, expressed frustration with Brinegar and the administration for a perceived lack of transparency. Specifically, Miller says that there were some changes from the last round of budget discussions that made it into next year’s proposed budget that he had questions about. He noted that Tuesday night’s reading was the first he had seen of the changes. Miller asked that all future changes be given to the council well in advance. Brinegar agreed to do so. Miller also took aim at the state’s method for budgeting. He says that state officials aren’t doing enough to help cities make the best financial decisions. Specifically, Miller took issue with the fact that cities have to budget under a “proposed rate” instead of a “certified rate.” While Columbus has to have it’s budget submitted to the state by November 1st, the state approved certified rate won’t be known until early next year.

Council is set to hold a second vote on the proposed budget at its next meeting on October 16th.