A $2 million allocation for the Farmer Music Center remains in the city of Cincinnati budget as it heads for a final vote, despite two efforts to strip it out.
During a lengthy and sometimes contentious budget meeting on June 15, Cincinnati City Council Member Mark Jeffreys failed to divert those dollars to fixing city roads, while Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney failed to direct them to an Avondale real estate project.
That means Mayor Aftab Pureval’s funding request for the under-construction Riverbend music facility – down from the $8 million the center asked for – is staying in the $593 million budget for fiscal year 2027 that the full City Council will consider June 17.
Cincinnatians ‘begging’ for road work, Jeffreys says
Jeffreys said the city has budgeted enough to repave 70 lane miles in the coming year, instead of the city’s target of 100.
“Our roads must be a priority for investment,” he said. “Cincinnatians are begging to fix the roads.”
By contrast, the Farmer Center can be built without city dollars, he said. “Our investment is not imperative for this to proceed,” he said.
Jeffreys’ proposal failed on a 7-2 vote, with only budget committee chair Jeff Cramerding offering support.
Some council members, like the mayor, called the $2 million contribution an investment, since the new center will provide about $1.5 million in admission and income tax each year.
Kearney wants city help for Burnet Square
Kearney pushed for the city to make good on its commitment to help Burnet Square, an $87 million project to build about 300 apartments with first-floor retail space in Avondale.
In February, Kearney won support for a motion that council would work with city administration to plug an unspecified gap in funding for the project.
But on June 15, Kearney tried twice, without success, to wrangle dollars for Burnet Square. In both cases, she suggested council pause allocations from the city account that holds the intended Farmer contribution as it works with administrators on a deal for the Avondale housing.
Kearney even withdrew her own motion to use $1.7 million of the funds earmarked for Farmer to establish a RiseCincy fund for housing and other assistance in city’s most underserved neighborhoods.
Kearney calls for but votes against more money for Regional Safety Complex
Kearney also voted against her own motion calling for the city to increase its contribution to the Regional Safety Complex by $2 million. The city earlier agreed to kick in $4.25 million toward the under-development Colerain Township facility, which will provide firearm and safety training for Cincinnati police, Hamilton County sheriffs and officers from other jurisdictions.
The project needs more money because the total price tag has risen from $31.6 million to $46.1 million, according to a county summary that Kearney sent to council members.
The budget committee endorsed Kearney’s request for more city dollars, but amended it with a request for a briefing from Hamilton County and Cincinnati police officials.
Kearney then voted “no” on the amendment and original measure, as did colleagues Scotty Johnson and Ryan James.
What’s next for the proposed budget
The budget committee returns to the budget debate during a special meeting at 9 a.m. June 17.
The full council takes it up at 1 p.m. June 17.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: $2M for Farmer Music Center going forward, despite efforts to derail
Reporting by Patricia Gallagher Newberry, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
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By Patricia Gallagher Newberry, Cincinnati Enquirer | USA TODAY Network
