COLUMBUS – The $970 million operating budget passed by Columbus City Council Monday night includes money to address pandemic response, police reform and the disparity in affordable housing.
Nearly $10 million has been earmarked for COVID-19 pandemic response, such as making vaccinations more widely available.
“While COVID-19 numbers are decreasing, we need to continue pushing till we’re on the other side of this pandemic,” council President Shannon Hardin said.
The $10 million council set aside for the Reimagining Public Safety effort includes more than $1.5 million for neighborhood-based violence intervention strategies, programs for youth, as well as equipment and emergency medical training for officers.
That is in addition to $1 million approved for creation of a Civilian Police Review Board and Office of the Inspector General approved by voters in November.
The funding is intended to expand alternative crisis response efforts like the Mobile Crisis Response initiative, which allows the city’s Department of Public Safety to partner with healthcare professionals to provide alternative mental health services and referrals to offenders instead of jail time.
More than $36 million is allocated to eviction prevention, tenants’ rights, housing discrimination and creation of a cabinet-level position focusing on an affordable housing strategy.
Council members also set aside funding for addressing wage equity, workforce development and expanding access to technology.