Columbus, Ohio
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Columbus is the capita and largestl city in Ohio. It is one of 22 cities in the state. The 2010 census reported the population at 787,033, making it the fifteenth largest city in the U.S. Named for Christopher Columbus, the city was founded in 1812.
In 2011, the city had five corporations named to the U.S. Fortune 500 list. In 2009, BusinessWeek named Columbus as the best place in the county to raise a family. In 2008, Forbes ranked the city as the number one up-and-coming tech city in the nation.[1]
Website evaluation
This website was most recently evaluated on 20 March 2013.
- Main article: Evaluation of Ohio city websites
The good
- Meetings
- A meeting calendar is available and names the times and locations of public meetings.
- Meeting videos are available.[2]
- Council agendas are published.[3] Additionally, meetings are available for viewing online.[4]
- Elected Officials
- Elected officials are listed with a mailing address, phone number and personalized email.[5]
- Administrative officials
- Department heads are listed for each department.
- Contact information for administrative officials is provided including a mailing address, phone number, and personalized email.[6]
- Audits
- The most recent audit is posted.
- Audits dating back to 2001 are available.[7]
- Budget
- The most current budget is listed.
- Budgets are archived for 2 years.[8]
- Permits and zoning
- Zoning ordinances are posted online.
- Permit applications can be downloaded on the site, along with information on how to apply for the permits.[9]
- Contracts
- Bids and RFPs are posted online.
- Approved contract statements are provided for vendors.[10]
- Public records
- The public information officer is identified and maintained by the City Attorney position. This person provides a mailing address, phone number and personalized email.
- A public records form is provided.
- A fee schedule for documents is provided..[11]
- Lobbying information is published.[12]
- MyColumbus app is available through Apple iTunes store.
- Taxes
- Tax revenues are broken down by federal, state, and local funding in the budget.
- Local taxes, like property taxes, are available online.
- Residents are able to pay taxes online. [13]
The bad
- Meetings
- Meeting minutes are not archived for for at least 3 years.
- Meeting agendas are not archived for at least 3 years.
- Budget
- Budgets are not archived for at least 3 years.
- Lobbying
- If the county engaged in lobbying actives or if it's a member of government lobbying associations are not disclosed. Nor is the total cost lobbying activities or membership dues for associations available.
Elected Officials & Salaries[14]
| Name | Title | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Coleman | Mayor | $158,302 |
| Hugh Dorrian | Auditor | $146,404 |
| Richard Pfeiffer | City Attorney | $146, 404 |
| Lori Tyack | Clerk of Courts | $58,191 |
| Michelle Mills | City Council Member | Unavailable |
| Andrew Ginther | City Council Member | $38,848 |
| Hearcel Craig | City Council Member | $38,848 |
| Zachary Klein | City Council Member | Unavailable |
| A. Troy Miller | City Council Member | Unavailable |
| Eileen Paley | City Council Member | Unavailable |
| Pricilla Tyson | City Council Member | $38,848 |
Administrative Officials
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Richard Isbell | ADA Coordinator |
| Tracie Davies | Director of Department of Building and Zoning Services |
| Barry Pickett | President of Recreation & Parks Department |
| Aaron Riley | Community Relations Commission |
| Boyce Safford III | Director of Development |
| Melinda Carter | Director Equal Business Opportunity Commission Office |
| Paul Rakosky | Director of Finance and Management |
| Ned Pettus, Jr. | Fire Chief |
| Walter Distelzweig | Chief of Police |
| Teresa Long, M.D. | Director of Public Health |
| Mitchell Brown | Director of Department of Public Safety |
| Mark Kelsey | Director of Department of Public Service |
| Gary Calvin | Director and CIO of Department of Technology |
| Richard Isbell | Veteran Affairs Coordinator |
Budget
- The total operating budget for the city of Columbus is $684.6 million.[15]
- Columbus maintains highest possible “AAA, stable” bond rating according to Moody’s Investor Service, Standard & Poors, and Fitch ratings.[16]
- In 2009, the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) awarded a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the City of Columbus, Ohio for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ending in December 31, 2009. It was the thirty-first consecutive year that the City received the award.[17]
The city finished building the Main St. Bridge in 2010, which cost $60.1 million to build.[18]
Bridge funding:[18]
- Ohio Department of Transportation: $19.9 million
- Federal funding: $8.6 million
- $5.2 from the Ohio Public Works Commission
- $7.4 million from the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission
- Columbus taxpayers paid $15 million to the State Infrastructure Bank and purchased $8.3 million in city bonds.
Stimulus
Columbus, Ohio received $3,339,725,530.03 in federal stimulus money over the court of 309 awards.[19]
Lobbying & Advocacy
All legislative agents (both active and non-active) are listed in the Legislative Agent Database. The search function allows searches based on company name, agent name, city, and zip code.[20]
Local taxes
The income tax in Columbus makes up 70 percent of the revenue supporting the general fund operating budget ($486.5 million). The income tax rate is 2.5 percent. Property taxes make up 7.4 percent of revenue ($50.8 million).[21] Income tax collections projected for 2011 is $486.5 million, assuming a 2 percent growth in income tax receipts in 2011 or an additional $9.5 million.
Columbus In the News
- In April 2011, Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora pled not guilty to allegation of racketeering, bribery, and other charges; the trial is delayed three months. More than three dozen public officials already pled guilty in the investigation.[22]
External links
- City of Columbus official site
- Columbus Detailed Profile
- City of Columbus Community Profile
- City of Columbus links
- Columbus Chamber of Commerce
- Columbus Ohio Census Facts
References
- ↑ Columbus facts
- ↑ Council calendar
- ↑ Agendas
- ↑ Online meetings
- ↑ Elected officials
- ↑ Administrative Officials
- ↑ CAFR Audit
- ↑ Budget
- ↑ Zoning
- ↑ Contracts and bids
- ↑ Public records
- ↑ Lobbyists
- ↑ Taxes
- ↑ http://b2.caspio.com/dp.asp?AppKey=adc11000d5g0a9h9b0g7d1h1f4f1 Salaries]
- ↑ Financial Overview - Narrative.pdf Operating budget
- ↑ AAA bond rating
- ↑ GFOA 2009 Award
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Ohio Watchdog, Pricey Main Street Bridge Opening Today, July 30, 2010
- ↑ Stimulus funding
- ↑ Lobbying and Advocacy
- ↑ Financial Overview - Narrative.pdf Taxes
- ↑ Delay sought in Ohio public corruption trial
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