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Budget Surplus Vote Could Come Wednesday

The full Cincinnati Council will likely vote Wednesday on the city manager's plan for the city's $19 million budget surplus from the last fiscal year. 
 
The Budget and Finance Committee approved the proposal Monday. 

 
The plan puts $12 million into the city's rainy day accounts, and spends the rest essentially on the police department for body cameras, other new technology and restoring the mounted patrol.

Assistant City Manager John Juech said officials are comfortable spending part of the surplus even with some looming budget issues in the next fiscal year.

"The recommendation is that this is a balanced recommendation that we can support going forward," Juech said.  "We're not doing anything that we think is terribly imprudent or will handicap our ability to manage our finances when we come to the budget time next year."

Council Member Kevin Flynn had some concerns about the process.

"No one from the administration talked to me about those things, no one solicited any recommendation from me," Flynn said.

Flynn introduced ordinances to provide $1 million dollars for a fire or police recruit class, but both were rejected.  Another measure he proposed for using some of the money for budget issues next year was also turned down. 

Meanwhile, the committee deadlocked on a plan to give city manager Harry Black a three percent merit pay raise.  The full Council could reconsider that issue Wednesday.

The committee also approved selling the remaining property the city owns near the former Blue Ash Airport to Al. Neyer for $8.3 million.  That company plans a mixed use development on the land for single family residential and office space.

Jay Hanselman brings more than 10 years experience as a news anchor and reporter to 91.7 WVXU. He came to WVXU from WNKU, where he hosted the local broadcast of All Things Considered. Hanselman has been recognized for his reporting by the Kentucky AP Broadcasters Association, the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists, and the Ohio AP Broadcasters.