Coleman welcomes proposal by local lawmakers to invest state funds in safety

Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman said he welcomes an attempt by Columbus area state lawmakers to devote state funds to police, fire and safety personnel.

“Already 71 percent of our city budget goes to police and fire and we are committed to providing that service to the taxpayers of Columbus and Ohio," he said. "It is a shame the state lawmakers want to slash the funds local governments receive to provide basic services and force us provide greater levels of services with fewer resources."

Gov. Bob Taft and Republican lawmakers want to reduce state funding to local government by 20 percent. The Local Government Fund is the city of Columbus’ second largest revenue resource and it receives about $50 million per year from the state.

“Republican lawmakers are fooling themselves if they think every village, township, city and county can absorb this kind of cut and still provide essential safety services that the public expect,” Coleman said. "Columbus already pours the vast majority of its state funding into police and fire so this proposal is in line with the current city procedures.”

Reductions in state spending break a nearly 70-year compact between the state and local governments to assist in meeting the expenses of providing basic government services.

“The Republicans proposal does nothing to make a single citizen of Ohio any safer or more secure. At a time when Homeland Security is a priority, the state of Ohio should be doing more, not less to ensure the safety of its citizens,” Coleman said.

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Contact: Dan Trevas at Coleman for Ohio, 614-221-1999