TOLEDO, OH (Toledo News Now) - The mayor's office has released a revised 2014 operating budget proposal that's being presented to Toledo City Council, and it includes funding for public safety priorities for the Collins administration.
The new budget plan includes $120,000 for the reopening of the Northwest District Police Station, with a target date of April 1. This was a key proposal during the campaign for Mayor D. Michael Collins, and this funding would allow that to become a reality.
Besides money for the district station reopening, the revised 2014 operating budget plan also includes the hiring of eight additional police and fire communication workers, plus seven additional civilians for Toledo police.
"Mayor Collins was adamant about finding the money to do that. We did that. We made adjustments to other budgets of other various departments that will get the station open. It will house the special victims unit, it will house the traffic unit, and some of the K-9 patrol," said George Sarantou, Toledo finance director.
Sarantou says general fund department heads have been ordered to cut their budgets by 2 percent, police and fire have been directed to slash their budgets by .5 percent. Council has until the end of March to approve a 2014 budget plan.
