CLEVELAND — Cleveland City Council has approved a new $2.06 billion budget for 2024 that includes a nearly $780 million general fund. Only one councilmember voted against it, but more still have concerns about things like public safety.
"As a resident myself, I'm happy to see that our fiscal condition is healthy — our finances are stable, we are living within our means, we have a balanced budget," Cleveland Finance Chief Ahmed Abonamah said. "Our revenues are slightly in excess of our expenses, so we're in a sound stable position with respect to just the nuts and bolts of our budget."
City Council overwhelmingly approved the 2024 budget in a meeting Monday night, adding 22 positions to housing and law departments and more than 20 jobs to departments that help with street maintenance and recreation.
"We want City Council's budget that we passed to focus on how the people of the city of Cleveland are going to get quality service," Council President Blaine Griffin explained. "We've given the admin what they've asked for, we've made some of our priorities clear, and now we expect a good outcome. And if it doesn't [happen], then we're going to hold everyone accountable if they don't deliver the results that the people of the city deserve."
But as 3News reported last month, the budget cuts the number of earmarked police positions down by 148.
“I'm concerned," Griffin admitted. "It's just difficult to hire police and there's no excuse, and all I can tell you is we've continued to budget, give them the allocations they want. But at some point in time, we've got to look at reality."
The Cleveland Division of Police currently has 1,154 officers on staff. The budgeted number of police positions for 2024 is 1,350, down from 1,498 last year and 1,640 in 2022. City leaders have told WKYC that with recent investments in pay increases, bonuses, and a marketing firm, they expect to hire more officers this year. However, it's unclear whether the department can reach the new allotted amount.
"I just am just not convinced we have the level of officers that we need," Griffin said. "However, I am a realist, and I'm not just going to put fake numbers out there to make people feel good."
Ward 5 Councilman Richard Starr was the only holdout.
"I'm not a rubber stamp," Starr declared Tuesday. "I didn't get elected to be a rubber stamp — put something in there, pass it ,and keep moving. That ain't how I get down."
Starr says he had some concerns about the lower number of budgeted officers, but more than that, he'd like to see more money go to the programs and communities he feels will make the biggest difference.
"As a member of council, we get hit with all the calls about what residents need," he added. "So when you talk about street services, when you talk about city services, when you talk about those different things, if stuff like that is not added to the budget to help our residents to the degree we need, it’s a big issue. I'm looking for a budget that's really going to address the needs throughout those neighborhoods that don't receive it."
The new budget goes into effect April 1.