City Council Demands Fiscal Hardship

Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin is sounding the alarm over a looming $15 million budget deficit, blaming the mayor’s office for mismanagement and demanding immediate, drastic cuts to avoid financial collapse. With police and fire departments already maxed out on overtime, Hardin warns that delays will make any cuts twice as painful. While the mayor’s team acknowledges economic headwinds and promises a plan by July, Hardin threatens to legislate budget fixes — including hiring freezes, contract pauses, and capital project cuts — if no action is taken. Adding political tension, Hardin is rumored to run for mayor in 2027, while the administration pushes back against what they call a “blame exercise,” hinting at modest raises for union workers and no raises for non-union staff, as federal pandemic funds vanish and costs rise. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/781cbf6c9d1a7dbf