The 2010 ($51.5) million deficit that faces the new council sworn in this December is devastating to City workers. As many as 600 workers could be impacted by the cuts. This City Council will establish the financial priorities for the next two years for the City of Cincinnati. The pension fund remains the key issue that must be addressed. " Council continues to kick this can down the road to the next council but time is running out fast," Smitherman says.

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The first financial hit to everyday citizens will be the dramatic cuts to metro. The Cincinnati NAACP remains concerned that City Council is still pushing a $200 milllion Streetcar as they cut metro service, raise cost to metro riders, and layoff metro workers. " The highest paid at metro should all take a 20% cut before any worker is fired. How do the top 10 employees at Metro make $1 million per year?," Smitherman says. 

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City Council must focus on cell phone bills at $15,000 per month, take home city cars, $40,000 per month in rent payments, and any cost for horse maintenance. The Cincinnati NAACP is concerned that City Council is moving fast to privatize sanitation. This is a major contract for the private company called Rumpke. "I really think that privatizing sanitation or charging a $250 tax to city residents is the wrong direction for Cincinnati. It looks like a great 2010 referendum issue," Smitherman says.