Red-Light Cameras and More

There was a lot of talk at Cincinnati City Council's finance committee meeting Monday about red-light cameras, which Chairman John Cranley budgeted in as generating $1 million. But here are some more things in the budget package, which council is expected to vote on Wednesday.

Savings:


1. $580, by taking out the water cooler in council chambers and ending the practice of providing bottled water to councilmembers. Cranley says it'd be better to drink Greater Cincinnati Water Works water anyway.


2. $60,000, by canceling the survey that asked citizens how they felt about city services.


3. $14,740, by eliminating 2% raises for council members and Mayor Mark Mallory.


4. $130,000, by cutting the recreation department's plan to replace computers.


Additions:


1. $65,000, for drawings and construction of the Mount Lookout streetscape.


2. $250,000, for a consultant on planning and design for the I-75 corridor.


3. $500,000 for "street calming," aka speed humps.


4. $250,000 for the Center for Closing the Health Gap, run by former Mayor Dwight Tillery.