Blight, pay raises, more: What to know about the nearly $300M Columbus budget plan
Still dealing with the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, Columbus leaders are aiming to address key city issues with a larger 2022 fiscal year budget and an influx of federal coronavirus aid dollars.
Mayor Skip Henderson’s proposed budget comes in just shy of $296.2 million, up nearly 5.6% from last year’s $280.5 million. Some of the fiscal year’s big-ticket items include $1 million for blight reduction, raises for the city’s director-level positions and 2% cost of living increases for all of the city’s employees.
The future of garbage pickup and how the city will spend the $78.4 million in federal COVID-19 aid from the American Rescue Plan will be important questions moving forward. Councilors are currently debating what they think needs to be added to the city’s spending list and what needs to be removed.
The Ledger-Enquirer sent six questions to the 10 members of the Columbus Council regarding the proposed budget and American Rescue Plan funds.
Councilors Pops Barnes, Mimi Woodson, Bruce Huff and Glenn Davis did not respond to the questions following multiple emails and calls from an L-E reporter.
The Columbus Council has to approve the new budget before July 1. Here’s what the councilors had to say:
Budget assumptions
The city’s FY2022 revenues are comprised of $161,082,401 in General Fund revenue, which includes $37,200,000 in Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) funds, $37,250,000 in Other Local Option Sales Tax (OLOST) funds and $87,485,172 in all other operating fund revenue. The proposed budget includes a general fund reserve of $53 million (98.76 days).
The budget also includes a $557,888 subsidy to the Civic Center Fund as COVID-19 affected their revenues.
“As the tourism and hospitality industries rebounds from the effects of the pandemic, we still have not experienced significant increases in our transient occupancy revenue which currently supports the operating budgets of the River Center, the Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, the Civic Center, and the Convention & Trade Center,” Henderson wrote in his introductory letter for the upcoming budget. “With that, we are hopeful that American Rescue Plan funding awarded to us by the Federal Government can be utilized to make up any revenue shortfalls for those impacted and restore their income to pre-2020 levels.”
Importance of pay raises for employees, directors
Henderson’s 2022 budget features salary increases and pay supplements for city employees. Sworn Columbus police personnel would receive their $2,000 annual supplement. All employees will receive a 2% raise for a cost of living adjustment.
Nearly all of the city’s 25 executive management positions would see their pay increase by three steps. The move would bring those city salaries closer to the pay rates offered by similar sized or nearby governments.
A study conducted by The Butler Center for Business & Economic Development at Columbus State University and presented to the council on May 4 found that salaries for 17 of the Columbus Consolidated Government’s director-level positions were below 80% of the average of sampled cities. Positions below 80% of the average salary include city attorney, internal auditor and city manager. Mayor and councilors aren’t included.
The 2022 budget would raise pay for those director positions in most cases by three pay steps. The goal is to reach 80% of average peer pay, and the raises would cost the city about $273,000. These positions will also receive the 2% cost of living raise.
Councilors Judy Thomas, Toyia Tucker, Garrett Walker, John House and Gary Allen said they fully supported the raises.
“Hopefully, with these pay increases, we will be able to retain our employees,” Tucker said in an email. “After reviewing the pay study for these positions, we learned that many similar-sized cities and our sister city, Phenix City, pays employees more in comparison to Columbus. In order to retain our talent, continuity, and attract more quality applicants, we must pay our employees comparable wages.”
Councilor Charmaine Crabb said she didn’t support all of the raises for director-level positions, but she was told the council has to accept them as a package.
“I think it is important that we pay our executives a competitive rate or we will lose them to another city. We lost our Codes and Inspections director to Tampa, FL in 2019. We almost lost another very important Director to a State Agency but they decided to stay because of this raise. We know we are behind in the pay for just about all our employees and are grateful that we have employees that look at the whole and not just the number on their paycheck,” she said.
$1 million towards blight demolition
Councilors Tucker, House and Garrett said the $1 million towards the demolition of blighted houses is an important provision in Henderson’s proposed budget.
Blight has been a key part of Henderson’s agenda since taking office in 2019. In the 2020 fiscal year budget, city leaders earmarked $1 million for the demolition of blighted properties — well above the $56,000 from 2019. The 2021 fiscal year included a $250,000 allocation.
“One of the key needs is housing demolition because of blight properties and the broken window effect,” Garrett said. “That’s part of the reason we have increased crime and that’s where some of the gangs are hanging out.”
The future of waste collection
The future of waste pickup in Columbus remains a topic of discussion. Inmate shortages caused by COVID-19 have resulted in delays, and city leaders have taken steps to alleviate strain.
Automated recycling in Columbus started in early May, and at their last meeting, councilors voted to approve a $1.77 million yard waste contract. Public Services Director Michael Criddle has recommended council raise garbage collection rates from $18 a month to $21.
While the estimated $20 million required for the containers and trucks necessary to fully automate waste pickup isn’t included in the 2022 budget, those funds could come from the $78.4 million in the American Rescue Plan. The use would have to match guidance from the U.S. Treasury Department, and then, the council would have to approve the purchases.
Crabb and Garrett said they supported using ARP funds to automate Columbus’ waste pickup and an increase in rates.
“If they want increased services … we have to pay for that,” Garrett said.
Tucker said she did not support using the ARP to fully fund automation.
“I would not be in support of the entire project being funded at this time,” she said. “We received half of the total allocation of the nearly $78.5 million. If we use $20 million on this project during this first round of funds allocated for Columbus, we would have less than $20 million to address other economic relief projects. Additionally, I would like more research on this project regarding the cost of maintenance and life cycle of the trucks.”
House and Allen said they were awaiting guidance from city staff and the U.S. Treasury. Thomas said that she didn’t want to raise rates.
“We are waiting for the staff to come back with a request to automate collection and how to implement,” House said in an email. “Once we receive the pros and cons of all options, we can make a decision. I do not want to raise rates, but we must produce more revenue or cut costs someplace to pay for better collection. ARP may help.”
Where does the budget fall short? What else could the American Rescue Plan fund?
Some councilors pointed to areas where they say the 2022 budget doesn’t hit important needs.
Tucker said she’d like to see the city fix its pools. Two outdoor pools — Psalmond Road Pool and Shirley Winston Pool — will remain closed this year. The pools were closed in 2018 and 2019 after the Columbus Council didn’t fund the necessary repairs.
“There are several talks about using American Rescue Plan funds for the automation of our waste pickup, but we have yet to mention replacing our pools,” Tucker said. “Addressing the shortfalls in Parks and Recreation is imperative. The need for activities in Columbus is dire due to the uptick in crime. Our youth need a safe outlet in their local communities.”
House mentioned certain capital projects, especially within Parks and Recreation, that can’t be funded.
“Watch the Add/Delete list debate. We may add some expenditures. Overall, the budget is good,” he said. “A SPLOST may be an avenue for those needs. We must first finalize a project list and then seek public input.”
Garrett said he’d like to see the ARP funds used for infrastructure.
“Every city across the nation is facing critical infrastructure needs,” he said. “If we don’t get ahead of the game while we have (these funds), … I think we need to make sure our roads are up to par and our employees are paid.”
This story was originally published June 1, 2021 at 11:33 AM.