Cash woes make Ohio cities close pools, cut police

By The Associated Press

Cities around Ohio are preparing for a big cash crunch next year by making plans to put fewer police officers on the streets, delay street repairs and close pools and recreation centers.

Ohioans also will be forced to pay higher fees for garbage pickup and building permits. Even a tax on plastic bags that shoppers take home from stores is being considered.

The problem for politicians is that tax revenues are dwindling and costs are increasing, leaving them with budget deficits that are forcing them to cut millions of dollars going into next year.

"This has been the most difficult time of my life," Warren Mayor Michael J. O'Brien said this week when he announced plans to lay off 40 workers, including include 20 police officers and 11 firefighters.

Dayton is weighing closing an arts learning center where professional artists teach youngsters and adults painting, jewelry making, weaving and woodcarving.

The center has been operating for more than 40 years, but the city faces a $13 million deficit in 2009. "We have nothing in northwest Dayton to fill this void," said Toula Stamm, a retiree who takes painting classes.

Montgomery County, which includes Dayton, will end its park recreation programs and close a downtown exhibition hall built in 1910.

One of the biggest projected budget shortfalls is in Columbus where city leaders face a $75 million deficit.

Mayor Michael Coleman has proposed cutting 130 jobs, shutting down a performing arts center for children and eliminating subsidies for city festivals.

Both Columbus and Toledo are looking at hiring no new police officers or firefighters to replace those who are retiring.

Coleman said 12 recreational centers and three city swimming pools may close.

"I'm asking our citizens and our city to sacrifice," he said last week. "I want us all to take on more responsibility, because the city will be doing less."

Cincinnati is considering a garbage fee that could cost each household $207 for the year. City Manager Milton Dohoney said the only other option is to lay off 55 police officers and other workers.

The only city not facing big cuts is Cleveland. Mayor Frank Jackson said last week that he expects to balance next year's budget without layoffs or tax increases.

That's because the city put in place a hiring freeze and reduction in overtime in July. "If we had not done these things, we would be in trouble," Jackson said.

Cities aren't just cutting though.

Some are increasing fees on services they provide.

Cleveland Heights raised its garbage fees and parking fines. Shaker Heights upped its fees for ambulance runs.

Increased fees aren't enough to cover all of the losses.

Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner is calling for closing all city pools except one, laying off 40 employees and cutting his own salary.

He also wants to shutdown nonessential city offices for four days and tax shoppers an extra 5 cents for every plastic bag they use at a store. The bags litter the streets and take up space in landfills, he said.