Facing a tight budget this year, Columbus is cutting by about $4.6 million its investment in summer youth programming, something Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther has repeatedly touted as keeping kids out of trouble.
Columbus City Council voted 8-0 on March 30 to approve $7.4 million in grants for more than 100 nonprofits providing summer youth programs, down from $8.6 million last year. Overall, the city will invest about $23.9 million in youth programming in 2026, down from $28.5 million in 2025, a 16% cut. This year’s allocation is still more than in 2023 and 2024, when the city spent about $20 million.
The city estimates the funding will serve about 67,000 youths in 2026, down from about 69,500 kids in 2025.
The council also voted 8-0 to authorize $9.9 million in Elevate!All grants to 109 nonprofits serving residents in need, in sectors such as homelessness prevention and behavioral health. Councilmember Melissa Green, chair of the Health, Human Services & Equity Committee, said there is historic disinvestment nationally in human services, yet despite a tight budget, the city is not rolling back its investment.
Annual funding for the city’s human services grants was preserved when Columbus City Council added $1 million back into Ginther’s proposed 2026 operating budget earlier this month.
The budget amendment process was more contentious this year as the city made cuts in nearly every department.
When the council amended the mayor’s budget, members also voted to restore $850,000 in funding to the Columbus Recreation & Parks Department’s youth summer camps, transferring that money from the allocation for outside partner grants for summer youth programming. Columbus City Councilmember Nancy Day-Achauer, chair of the Recreation & Parks Committee, advocated for fully funding the city’s programs first before giving money to outside programs.
Day-Achauer said that summertime is a critical time for children’s safety, development and overall well-being.
“Unfortunately the city’s budget could not provide enough funding for all of the quality youth programs that applied but Columbus is blessed to have so many great youth program providers,” Day-Achauer said.
More than 200 organizations applied for the summer grants this year.
“At a time of real uncertainty across the nation, we continue to collaborate with trusted community organizations to keep our children engaged and safe, and to strengthen the stability and prosperity of our families,” Ginther said in a media advisory about the grants. “By partnering with nonprofit organizations in every Columbus neighborhood, we can improve lives and community safety one summer camp, one job training program, one household at a time.”
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: Columbus cuts $4.6M from summer youth programs, preserves human services
Reporting by Jordan Laird, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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