The big blue recycling cans on the streets of Columbus usually have swollen seams by the time the city empties the cans every two weeks.
However, starting in the summer of 2023, under a $6 million expansion of the private contract program, curbside recycling collection, like garbage collection, will move to weekly. This is his one of the changes announced by Mayor Andrew J. Ginther on Thursday when he unveiled his 2023 proposal. budget.
Other initiatives in the plan that Ginther highlights include:
- Over $2.3 million for summer, after-school, and job readiness programs to keep Columbus’ youth safe and engaged.
- $3.1 million to operate the Hilltop Early Learning Center;
- Additional staff to support the Columbus housing strategy.
- Provided $10 million in welfare grants to social welfare organizations that help vulnerable residents and neighbors.
- Invest more than $2.1 million to reduce illegal dumping, expand waste collection and include hotspot inspections. He will open two convenience centers for residents to properly dispose of hard-to-recycle items, food and garden waste, hazardous waste, and bulk items. Increase the number of garbage truck drivers.
- By the end of 2023, the city’s rainy day fund is expected to stand at $95.2 million. That’s about 8.3% of the city’s General Fund budget, up from $87.9 million at the end of 2021.
With crime proving to be a public concern ahead of Tuesday’s midterm elections, Ginther said the next budget’s $705 million will be spent on “neighborhood safety, including three recruit classes for both police and fire.” I also emphasized that it is for 170 new police and he to 25 lateral movement and 125 new firefighters. ”
However, taking into account the “separation”, the net number of uniformed officers would increase by 85 to 2,021, according to the 414-page budget document. Uniformed firefighters increased by 66 to his 1,703.
The Public Security Bureau’s total budget, if approved by the city council, will increase from $649.7 million this year to $707.3 million next year, nearly 9%.
“We will not rest until Columbus is the safest metropolis in the country,” Ginther said in a statement released by his office this week.
Expansion from fortnightly to weekly recycling pickups will further reduce the amount of waste entering landfills and work toward the city’s goal of increasing the amount of recyclables the city collects by up to 40% To do.
The city will also hire two “solid waste inspectors,” specifically to collect evidence of dumping in the alleys and prosecute those responsible. The additional staff will bring the city to seven investigators handling cases.
The city also plans to add two new Waste and Reuse Convenience Centers to the Alum Creek and Georgesville Road waste transfer stations by summer 2023. Columbus residents can drop off trash, bulky, recyclable, food and garden waste, or “hard-to-dispose waste” free of charge, and on-site staff are available to assist them. The city has announced that it will.
The new pilot food waste dumping facilities, which will begin next spring, will be located at five sites, including three undecided Recreation and Park Service Community Centers.
The city’s total budget budget for 2023 is $1.14 billion, an increase of nearly 14%, with about $800 million going to pay salaries and another $183 million to purchase services. Nearly 80% of the city’s revenue comes from income taxes.
wbush@gannett.com
@Reporter Bush
