Budget

By Kevin Flynn

• Solve the Crisis.
• Combine and Share Services.
• Work for Long Term Economic Growth

Council knew at the latest in December of 2008 that the 2009 budget was 'optimistic' and that, in 2010, it faced dramatic deficits. Council fiddled, while Cincinnati burned. Now Council must put out the fire, and hope that it doesn't go above the second floor, because the browned out ladder companies of CFD won't be available to douse the flames. Most of what the city does is a core service to someone, but protection of life and property has to be at the top of everyone's list.

For the immediate crisis, work with the City Manager, not against him. Show good faith toward the unions, and demand good faith in return from them. Don't ask the departments to do their own cutting (It is very difficult for a worker to say "lay me off". The fat is always in someone else's department.) Look at the entire Budget, not just a part of it. If expenses are paid out of the General Operating Fund, but can properly be paid for out of a restricted budget, do it. If unrestricted General Capital expenditures don't absolutely have to be made this year or next, don't make the expenditure and move the money to the General Fund. Put a moratorium on all expenditures, even if budgeted, unless the necessity is demonstrated (eliminate the 'use it or lose it' mentality.)

Council needs to look at the mission of each Department, Commission, and Board. Council needs to review the metrics each department should already have in place to determine the success each organization is having in reaching its quantifiable goals. Council needs to look at the Tables of Organization for each organization. Council, in connection with senior management needs to look at each Department's Budget, line item by line item. Any expenditure, any inefficiency, any personnel, that are not essential to moving the city forward must be cut. The city must expand the sharing of services and personnel between departments. Combine functions, services, purchasing, and personnel from separate departments into a central office to achieve economies of scale. Each piece of heavy equipment, each van, each lawnmower, each paperclip, that is not used on a daily basis by one department is an opportunity for savings for the city as a whole.

Cincinnati needs to stop talking about sharing services (and costs) with other jurisdictions in and around Hamilton County and start doing it. Every jurisdiction is hurting. Every jurisdiction needs to cut expenses. The time to act is now. There are things that Cincinnati can do better than other jurisdictions: work it out with the other jurisdiction, charge for it, and enhance revenues. There are things other jurisdictions can do more efficiently than we can: work it out, pay for it, and cut expenses.

In the long term, Council needs to stop spending more than it is bringing in. There are only two ways to balance a budget. Cut expenses or increase revenue. Once we have eliminated wasteful expenses, cut down the bureaucratic morass, and streamlined the services our city provides, we need to increase revenues by encouraging small business development and increasing our residential base through smart investment in projects that will succeed and will move our city forward. We have to stop the political game playing and use Common Sense in maximizing our city's tremendous resources.