CLEVELAND, Ohio – City Council added money to Mayor Frank Jackson’s budget on Monday for programs to help seniors take care of their homes and teach youngsters how to play an instrument.

The council voted 16-1 to make the additions, bolstering programs that collectively cost more than $3 million. The vote was the second reading for the budget. Councilman Mike Polensek was opposed. A final vote is expected March 23.

Among the amendments approved by the council:

An increase of $50,000 per ward to help qualifying seniors with home maintenance and repairs. City Council created the program two years ago and applications have been maxed out each year, according to the city’s Department of Aging. The amendment raised funding from $75,000 to $125,000 per ward. The total cost of the program will be more than $2.1 million.

An increase from $75,000 to $100,000 in the amount of money each of 17 council members has for discretionary capital improvement projects in their wards. Previously members have used the money for things such as park improvements and security cameras. The total cost for the program will now be $1.7 million.

An earmark of $200,000 to the Recreation Department to pay for instructors in the Play if Forward program, a youth music education program organized by Councilmen Kevin Conwell and several arts organizations that provides Cleveland kids with instruments.

Money for several other programs, including a pilot program to refurbish 20 brick streets, the posting of historic markers in neighborhoods and posting the logo for Halloran Recreation Center in ice at the center’s skating rink.

Cleveland’s charter requires the budget be given three readings, and it must sit for at least seven days for public viewing after the second reading.

City Council won’t meet on March 16, the day before the primary election. State law requires the budget be sent to Cuyahoga County by April 1.

Council President Kevin Kelley noted to other members that other changes could be made if deemed necessary.

“This is an estimate. We can do what we want as things come up over the year,” Kelley said. “It’s not the end of discussions.”

Jackson unveiled his 2020 budget at the end of January. The council wrapped up two weeks of hearings on the plan last week.

During those hearings, Jackson said the city’s finances, aided by an improving economy and growth in income tax revenue, were stable to a point where the city could weather a 2-year recession without having to slash services and lay off employees.

The 2020 spending plan projected about $1.84 billion in spending, up slightly from 2019’s estimate of $1.82 billion.

That includes spending in enterprise funds -- the Cleveland water department, Cleveland airports, Cleveland Public Power and the city’s sewer service -- which generate their own revenue.

General fund spending for most city services – police, fire, EMS, street maintenance, garbage pickup, recreation programs – is forecast at about $670 million, up from $646 million in 2019.

The city finished 2019 with about $43 million in cash. Jackson expects about $46 million in reserve at the end of 2020.

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