FOX19.com and FOX19 News, weather, traffic, and sports for Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky | Council members' plan to save police jobs would affect schools

Council members' plan to save police jobs would affect schools

By Regina Russo - bio | email
Posted by Trina Edwards - email

CINCINNATI, OH (FOX19) - Four Cincinnati city council members and the president of Cincinnati's chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police held a press conference to discuss their plan to save police jobs.

Jeff Berding, Chris Bortz, Leslie Ghiz and Chris Monzel outlined their plan to save 138 police jobs. The cuts are being made in order to deal with a $28 million budget deficit.

The plan would delay a $2.5 million payment the city is scheduled to make to the Cincinnati Public Schools capital fund. CPS receives $5 million a year from the city to make up for lost tax revenue when Great American Ball Park and Paul Brown Stadium were built. The 2.5 million is half of that payment left to paid this year.  The deferred payment would be paid back with interest over time.

The council members said they needed a fifth member to support their plan.

However, before the Cincinnati School Board could meet Thursday afternoon in emergency executive session, Vice Mayor David Crowley said the plan was over.

"My four colleagues on council have come up with a ridiculous plan, there's no plan," said Crowley. "There are five members on council opposed to this plan. We have an obligation to the children."

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