Columbus: Funding Review Advisory Committee to Assess Public Funding
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Today, Mayor Andrew J. Ginther, Columbus City Council President Shannon G. Hardin and Franklin County Board of Commissioners President Erica C. Crawley announced the forthcoming launch of the Funding Review Advisory Committee, which will be charged with evaluating public funding practices, analyzing current and potential tax revenue streams and providing recommendations to the City of Columbus and Franklin County to ensure the continued support of essential community services such as the human services, cultural arts and travel and tourism sectors.

A Funding Review Advisory Committee convened in 2011 issued findings and recommendations that were published the following year and served as an influential roadmap for local policymakers. The City and County have convened a second iteration of the Committee to reexamine public funding strategies in light of the region's evolving and growing needs.

"As Columbus continues to grow and evolve, it is essential that our funding strategies keep pace with the changing needs of our community, especially in a post-COVID economy," said Sandy Doyle-Ahern, Committee Chair. "This Committee is dedicated to fostering innovation, collaboration and thoughtful solutions to ensure that essential community services are supported sustainably and equitably. We look forward to working together to develop recommendations that will serve our community's diverse and dynamic needs."

The Committee will focus on the following objectives:
  • Assess Funding Trends: Review changes in funding for the local human services, cultural arts and travel and tourism sectors over the past decade to understand allocation patterns and community impact.
  • Evaluate Revenue Streams: Analyze current and potential tax revenue sources to determine their effectiveness and potential for growth.
  • Assess Revenue Utilization: Examine how existing tax revenue streams are being allocated and utilized across sectors, identifying inefficiencies and gaps.
  • Recommend Sustainability Strategies: Propose long-term strategies to maintain adequate public support while promoting fiscal responsibility and adaptability.
  • Identify Opportunities for Improvement: Explore ways to optimize the use of public funds, increase operational efficiencies and enhance service delivery across the three sectors.

The Committee is composed of a balanced and diverse group of community leaders who have a deep understanding of the local human services, cultural arts and travel and tourism sectors. The following community leaders were appointed by Mayor Ginther in collaboration with Columbus City Council President Hardin and Franklin County Board of Commissioners President Crawley to form the Committee:
  • Sandy Doyle-Ahern, President of EMH&T
  • Trudy Bartley, Associate Vice President for Local and Community Relations at The Ohio State University Office of Government Affairs
  • Barbara Benham, Executive Vice President and Chief Public Affairs Officer at Huntington National Bank
  • Darnita Bradley, Senior Manager of Local Government Affairs & Engagement at JobsOhio
  • Tanny Crane, President & CEO of Crane Group
  • Janelle Coleman, Vice President of Corporate Philanthropy and Community Engagement at American Electric Power and President of the American Electric Power Foundation
  • Luke Fedlam, Partner at Amundsen Davis
  • Jason Hall, CEO of the Columbus Partnership
  • Traci Martinez, Managing Partner at Squire Patton Boggs
  • Karen Morrison, Senior Vice President at OhioHealth and President of the OhioHealth Foundation
  • Matt Scantland, CEO of AndHealth
  • Jamie Shumaker, Executive Director of the Central Ohio Labor Council, AFL-CIO
  • Janica Pierce Tucker, Partner-In-Charge of Taft Columbus
  • Doug Ulman, Board Vice Chair at Pelotonia
  • Michael Young, Lead Pastor of City of Grace Church

The Committee will hold its first meeting on Thursday, April 10 at 3:00 p.m. at 141 N. Front St, and is expected to complete its work by the end of the year. The Committee will engage a variety of external stakeholders and issue experts, inviting them to provide testimony to inform the work of the Committee.

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Additional information about the Committee, including details related to upcoming meetings, can be found online at https://www.columbus.gov/FRAC. This webpage will be regularly updated with the Committee's ongoing work and information about future meetings as they are scheduled.

Members of the public may attend the public portions of the committee's meetings or watch the meeting recordings as they are published to the City of Columbus YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/cityofcolumbus.

At the conclusion of its work, the Committee will produce a report that provides an analysis of public funding trends and revenue utilization, identifies opportunities to improve efficiency and effectiveness in public fund utilization and recommends long-term strategies to sustain and enhance funding for essential community services.

Questions about the Committee can be directed to FRAC@columbus.gov.

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