2021 Operating and Capital Improvement Budgets on Toledo City Council agenda

​​By Tim Schneider, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz’s proposed 2021 operating and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budgets are on the agenda for Toledo City Council’s regular meeting at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 19. The operating budget under Ordinance 36-21 proposes expenditures of $283,118,577. It is balanced using a transfer of $11 million from the CIP fund and almost $23 million from general fund reserves. Income tax revenue is expected to generate $178.4 million. Separately, $17 million in new revenue for roads is expected from the additional 0.25 percent income tax approved last year. The CIP budget under Ordinance 37-21 proposes expenditures of $18.7 million for residential roads and $20.3 million for other capital projects in 2021. Amendments to the budget proposals are expected to be offered prior to a vote.

Also at the meeting, Council is expected to vote on the following:

• Ordinance 10-21 which would approve $19,230,001 for residential road improvements in 2021. The funding is for projects that utilize only city dollars to rebuild or resurface streets. Of the total funding amount, $18,674,511 would come from the city’s Road Improvement Fund, and $555,490 would come from the CIP Fund.

 

• Ordinance 11-21 which would approve $7.8 million from the CIP Fund to cover the city’s portion of a number of non-residential roadway and construction projects in 2021. The funding will match $15 million in outside funding for the projects from the Ohio Department of Transportation, the Ohio Public Works Commission, and TMACOG. 
• Ordinance 16-21 which would re-establish a six-member Apportionment Board and approve the Mayor’s nomination of Mike Beazley, Ken Fallows, Benjamin Fletcher II, DeVon Overton II, Donna Owens, and Sally Perz to serve one-year appointments on the board. Its purpose is to review the demographic characteristics of the city following the most recent census and present a plan for revised boundaries for the city’s six council districts by May 15, 2021.  
• Ordinance 20-21 which would re-establish a seven-member Salary Review & Recommendation Commission that would include a to-be-selected resident and representatives from the Greater Northwest Ohio AFL-CIO, Lucas County Democratic Party, Lucas County Republican Party, NAACP, the University of Toledo, and the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce. The purpose of the commission is to review salaries for the Mayor and members of City Council and present a recommendation to Council by April 1, 2021.  
• Ordinance 21-21 which would authorize $75,000 for a contract with Campbell-Hill Aviation Group, KVA Consulting, and the Lucas County Commissioners to conduct a study examining the operations and governance of the Eugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airport. Under the agreement, Lucas County would also contribute $75,000 for the study.  
• Ordinance 22-21 which would approve the city’s purchase of an 8.5 acre portion of the former Champion Spark Plug manufacturing site at 1110 Hastings Street from owner Mark Fayson for $10. The city currently owns the adjacent 8 acre parcel from the former plant and together the two parcels would offer a site for re-development that includes rail access and entry from a major street.

 
Council is expected to relieve Ordinance 38-21 of committee. The ordinance would require a special use permit for drug and alcohol treatment centers proposing to locate within 1,000 feet of another center. The ordinance would allow review and input from the Lucas County Mental Health & Recovery Services Board in cases involving a permit.
 
The public may watch the council meeting online by visiting https://toledo.legistar.com and scrolling down to the January 19 meeting and clicking on “in progress”.

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​Tim Schneider
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​As Manager for Local Government Advocacy, Tim Schneider advocates for local policies and laws that safeguard and foster a pro-business environment in the Toledo Region. Tim has more than 10 years of legislative and public policy experience with the local, state and federal levels of government.