In this episode of Citizen Watchdog, Todd Zinser delves into the complexities surrounding the COVID funding received by the city, exploring how the funds were categorized, the challenges in tracking their distribution, and the implications for future tax increases.

He highlights the lack of transparency in spending and the need for accountability in how the funds were utilized, particularly concerning nonprofit support and budget stabilization efforts.

Documents related to Cincinnati’s receipt and use of State and Local Fiscal Relief Funds are posted in the Research Library.

In this episode of Citizen Watchdog, host Todd Zinser delves into the pressing issue of truancy in Cincinnati Public Schools. He highlights the significant impact that absenteeism has on students’ learning environments and the overall school district. Zinser discusses the evolution of truancy management, noting the shift from traditional truant officers to absence intervention teams, which aim to address chronic absenteeism through a more supportive approach rather than punitive measures.

He emphasizes the confusion surrounding the definitions of chronic absenteeism and habitual truancy, and the challenges in gathering reliable data to assess the effectiveness of these intervention teams. Zinser further explores the current state of chronic absenteeism in Hamilton County, revealing that Cincinnati Public Schools ranks 22nd out of 607 schools in terms of absenteeism.

He raises concerns about the lack of data on the performance of absence intervention teams and suggests that the City of Cincinnati should commission an independent study to evaluate their effectiveness. The episode concludes with a call for greater oversight and collaboration between city government and public schools to ensure that students receive the support they need to attend school regularly.

In this episode of Citizen Watchdog, Todd Zinser discusses the complexities of taxation in Cincinnati, focusing on the recent tax increases, historical context, and the implications of government spending. He critiques the current city council’s approach to managing taxes and budgets, emphasizing the need for fiscal responsibility and transparency in public finance. The conversation also touches on the impact of property tax reassessments and the potential for earnings tax increases, urging listeners to remain vigilant about government financial decisions.

A correction is necessary just for accuracy purposes. At approximately 13:20, the gross increase in county property tax collections was understated. He said the increase was $128 million; the correct figure for all of Hamilton County was approximately $184 million, which includes the $54 million increase for the City of Cincinnati.  The error understated the county-wide increase but the overall point remains the same.

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Join us on Citizen Watchdog with Todd Zinser as we unravel the complexities of the city’s lead service line replacement program, which has been running for several years. This episode uncovers startling revelations from a recent audit that found significant mishandling of the scrap lead pipes, intended for recycling, that mysteriously went missing over a five-year period. We explore the implications of this oversight, the environmental hazards it might pose, and the city’s accountability in ensuring proper disposal of these potentially toxic materials. We’ll also discuss the procedures the city employed to protect workers, but question whether these measures are sufficient or merely scratching the surface of a much larger issue.