Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther is pitching a more than $2.8 billion capital budget for 2026 that includes a record investment in fire apparatus plus money for Southwest parks and revamping Livingston Avenue and more loans for a fourth water plant that is currently stalled after no contractor bid to build it.
Ginther's budget proposal, which he announced on Sept. 11 at a press conference, does not include any additional money for the Franklin County Municipal Courthouse since Ginther announced this summer that he would scrap building a long-awaited new courthouse in favor of renovating the existing one.
The proposed capital budget includes about $2.08 billion in new investment, a historically large pot of money, even as the city faces challenges
balancing its operating budget. The Ginther administration has emphasized that budget rebalancing is underway and has opposed calls from City Council President Shannon Hardin to scale back capital spending this year.
Hardin raised concerns about the Ginther administration tapping into the Income Tax Set-aside fund, which is used mostly to pay back debt for capital projects, to an unprecedented degree this year to balance the operating budget. He said he would bring legislation forward to restrict by how much Ginther could tap into the ITSA fund and suggested limiting or canceling this year's bond sale.
"Despite things happening nationally, our city remains on solid financial footing as we have maintained a steady hand following time-tested funding strategies built over decades by City Auditor Hugh Dorrian and his successors," Ginther said "That steady approach has given Columbus the financial strength to make investments like these today."
Without mentioning Hardin, Ginther raised concerns around Hardin's "rhetoric" around placing restrictions on the Income Tax Set Aside fund.
Hardin is challenging Ginther in the 2027 mayoral race and has increasingly criticized Ginther's handling of the city budget this year. Hardin was not immediately available for comment.
Ginther's proposal also includes $13.3 million for new Southwest Columbus parks. The city has scrambled to invest in more parks in the neighborhood after Ginther struck a deal to lease McCoy Park to a National Women's Soccer League franchise.
Like last year's capital budget, the fourth water plant dominates this year's budget proposal. The proposal includes $934 million in new state loan commitments for the fourth water plant and related transmission line. A groundbreaking was set for this month but the project is stalled after no contractor submitted a bid by the deadline to construct a plant the city estimated would cost $1.87 billion to build.
Columbus Water & Power Director Kristen Atha said the city is confident that its recent cost estimate is accurate and is meeting with multiple general contractors now about bidding on the project. She said multiple national contractors have expressed interest in the project since The Dispatch reported on the lack of bids on Sept. 10.
Here are some other highlights from Ginther's proposed capital budget:
- $21.5 million to replace aging fire engines, platform ladders, ambulances and other apparatus
- Over $26 million for improvements to Livingston Avenue to reduce speed, increase traffic safety and add protected bike lanes, between Alum Creek Trail and James Road and between 18th Street and Nelson Road.
- $3.4 million to replace the police academy roof
- $13.5 million to replace Tuttle Park Pool
- $5 million more for the Capital Line, a two-mile "urban pathway" for pedestrians and cyclists being built through Downtown
- $9 million for participatory budgeting
- $5 million for repairs to Barack Recreation Center, which was closed after suffering damage during recent storms. The city is applying for federal disaster relief money that could reimburse this. Ginther said hopefully the center will reopen by the spring.
- $2.3 million more for phase one of the Linden Green Line park
- Over $27 million for affordable housing projects funded by previously voter-OK'd bond dollars. Ginther said it's a vital step in completing his goal of Columbus building 200,000 units over a decade to bring down the cost of housing.
"My proposed budget focuses on comprehensive investment in public safety, affordable housing, recreation and infrastructure designed to serve every resident, family and neighborhood across Columbus," Ginther said.
Ginther highlighted that his proposed budget for projects like roads, sidewalks and trails is able to bring in more than $134 million in federal and state grants. The Livingston Avenue project, for example, will receive a federal grant of $12 million.
Government and politics reporter Jordan Laird can be reached at jlaird@dispatch.com. Follow her on X, Instagram and Bluesky at @LairdWrites.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ginther pitches record spending on fire equipment, Livingston, other projects
