by John Beagle
Since 2000, the police budget has been cut by 12 percent, and the fire division has been cut 7 percent. But that won't be enought if the safety levy fails.
Photo: A Middletown fire station
According to Cincinnati,com, failure of the safety levy would force additional cuts in police and fire services including:
- closing one fire station
- 16 fewer police officers
- 6 fewer firefighters
Overall, the number of city employees has been reduced to 399 from 466 in 2000.
Spending in the general fund has been reduced by $4.3 Million since 2000. The city projects a $2.274 million deficit for 2008 if the income tax (safety Levy) fails.