incinnati council members will now have several days to write motions to make their proposed changes to the city’s fiscal year budget, which will take effect July 1.
Some on council will use the comments they heard from residents during three public hearings to make those alterations to the proposed spending plan.
Tuesday night, nearly 40 speakers offered their thoughts during a final public hearing at the College Hill Recreation Center.
Several residents expressed support for the $3.25 million Mayor John Cranley is proposing for College Hill Station. It is a proposed mixed-use development with housing and retail space at the corner of Hamilton Avenue and North Bend Road.
"As this project becomes a reality, the community of College Hill becomes stronger, and in the same way that Northside, Mt. Airy and these communities become stronger, so too does the city of Cincinnati continue to become the kind of place where people want to live and bring their families," said Dan Minelli, the principal of McAuley High School and member of the community development council.
A half dozen speakers also expressed support and appreciation for the CAT House, or the Center for Addiction Treatment. That group is seeking $500,000 from the city to help finance its new facility. Right now that money is not included in either the city manager’s proposed budget, or the mayor’s changes.
"The CAT House has taught me a lot," said Jeff Grimes, a recovering addict who used the center. "It taught me a new way of life, taught me how to live a happy life without having to use alcohol or drugs to substitute all my pains and problems I've dealt with."
While council held three neighborhood public hearings in various neighborhoods, resident Sue Wilke said people need a chance to be involved before the city manager releases a budget proposal.
"Asking citizens to come at the end of the process to speak for two minutes is not what I consider to be meaningful and proactive," Wilke said.
Council members will give their budget motions to Budget and Finance Committee Chairman Charlie Winburn. He will likely take those and come up with a plan that has the support of at least five council members.
The Budget and Finance Committee is scheduled to meet on June 20 to discuss the budget document, and the full council is scheduled to take final votes on June 22.
