Ginther: Capital spending spread around city

Mayor Andrew J. Ginther said the proposed $1 billion spending plan for 2018 capital projects in Columbus spreads the wealth.

Projects outside Downtown make up 87 percent of the budget, Ginther said at a news conference Wednesday to formally introduce the capital budget.

“If your top three priorities are neighborhoods, neighborhoods, neighborhoods, your capital budget better reflect that,” Ginther said.

Most of Columbus’ 2018 capital budget would go to places that residents rarely see but often use when they turn on the faucet, flush the toilet or, in some areas, flip on a light switch. More than half of the $1 billion spending plan is for public utilities. The budget also includes $39 million for resurfacing roads, up to $1 million to buy new technology to help police determine the location of gunshots and other expenses.

“This plan covers everything from sidewalks to sewers, parks to public safety in all four quadrants of our community,” Council President Shannon G. Hardin said.

About $276 million in the budget is for projects in the city’s northern quadrant, and $179 million is for the south. The eastern part would see $165 million in projects, and the western part $262 million. About $720 million of the budget is new spending; $294 million is carried over from previous years.

New fire engines, ladder trucks and medics are expected to cost the city $13.6 million in 2018. About $25.5 million is proposed to renovate and build new fire stations and facilities; $7.2 million is proposed to renovate police facilities.

Columbus also proposes to spend $27 million of $40 million it pledged for road improvement infrastructure around the construction of OhioHealth’s new offices at Route 315's interchange with West North Broadway, where the “pinball ramp” was removed on the Northwest Side. The neighborhood around that project asked for a bike path connecting the Olentangy Trail, and the proposed budget includes money for such a project.

Four public hearings are scheduled to present the proposed capital budget; each will be in a different area of the city. The council is likely to vote on the spending plan later this month.