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Coronavirus
As a new strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) swept through the world in 2020, preparedness plans, masking policies and more public policy changed just as quickly. WVXU has covered the pandemic's impact on the Tri-State from the very beginning, when on March 3, 2020, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine barred spectators from attending the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus over concerns about the virus, even though Ohio had yet to confirm a single case of COVID-19.

Cincinnati Could Borrow $200 Million Because Of COVID-19

city hall
Bill Rinehart
/
WVXU

Cincinnati is making financial plans in case the city faces an extreme economic downturn because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

City council will be asked Friday to give city administrators the authority to borrow up to $200 million. 

The money would be used to make sure basic city services are maintained without disruption during the crisis.  That includes police, fire, health, sanitation and water delivery. 

"This is a contingency. Hopefully we won't need it," said Mayor John Cranley during Wednesday's city council meeting.

Cranley said the measure is to make sure the city is prepared for the worst-case scenario.

"I want us to have the authority needed to make sure that we can continue to provide clean water, sanitation, police, fire," Cranley said. "Those essentially vital services that our society cannot function without."

The city administration would be authorized to issue $150 million of emergency health and welfare bonds.  Those would be repaid with lease payments from the city-owned, Cincinnati Southern Railway. 

Another $50 million of water system revenue bonds could be issued and those would be repaid with a 5% water rate increase starting January 1st.

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.