By Mark Hansel
NKytribune managing editor
The City of Florence is on solid financial ground and, despite challenges, is poised for continued prosperity.
That was the message from Mayor Diane Whalen at her annual State of the City and Budget Address at Tuesday’s city council meeting.
“We have experienced some big city and urban growing pains, and faced things that we never expected in Florence,” Whalen said. “We will continue to face our challenges head on. We are committed to providing a safe and prosperous community where you can enjoy living, working and playing.”
The City will begin the new fiscal year on July 1 with a fund balance of $62.9 million, which is projected to increase to $69.1 million by the end of the budget cycle.
The City of Florence has not increased its real estate tax since 2008. The city council is provided with monthly financial reports that show variances between expected revenues and expenditures that allows it to monitor and recognize any needed adjustments.
“Our focus on financial management and economic development has established the city as a center of commerce in Greater Cincinnati and the Northern Kentucky region,” Whalen said. “Private investment and job growth continue in the city. Our efforts are paying dividends, and we are experiencing successes from large to small, all of which are very important to our community.”
The City’s general fund budget totals $33.3 million. The figure includes operating and capital expenditures, as well as transfers to other city funds. The operating expenditures are $21.6 million; an overall 5 percent increase from those budgeted for fiscal year 2016. The city also has planned expenditures for capital items of $3.1 million.
The City’s Finance Department, led by Finance Director Linda Chapman, continues to be recognized by the Government Finance Officers Association for excellence in financial reporting, the highest recognition awarded for financial reporting for a municipality. The City received its second GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation award this year.
“Our staff members in the administrative and finance offices perform responsibly by providing general management and coordination of city operations, support in billing and collections, business licensing, human resources, and risk management,” Whalen said.
Public safety
The Florence Police Department received 50,477 officer calls, with 71,361 units dispatched. Calls ranged from traffic enforcement to accident investigations, responses to 9-1-1 calls, and assisting residents, businesses, and visitors with requests for service.
The police departments of Florence, Erlanger, Elsmere and Independence recently entered into an inter-local agreement. The goal of the agreement is to have the greatest impact on illegal activity through cooperation.
Each police department now has the same powers of arrest and immunities when acting outside their jurisdiction as they would have if the duties were performed in their own jurisdictions. The agreement is only the second of its kind to be implemented in the state of Kentucky
A newly formed Narcotics Unit is now fully staffed and all of the officers assigned to the Unit have received specialized training for narcotic and vice investigations. The Narcotics Unit has recorded 122 felony drug arrests, 143 misdemeanor arrests and 56 warrants served for narcotics trafficking and possession.
The department successfully secured federal and state grants for equipment and special law enforcement programs. A technology-based grant was obtained from the U.S. Department of Justice to purchase 22 body-worn cameras for patrol officers. The department was also awarded a highway safety grant from the state of Kentucky in the amount of $41,000 dollars for enhanced traffic enforcement.
“In the coming year, the department will apply for grants to purchase additional body worn cameras,” Whalen said. “The grant will also be used to purchase redaction software. With increased requests from the media for access to police videos, redaction software will allow us to protect the identities of innocent persons who happen to be in the view of the cameras.”
Ambulances from the Florence Fire/EMS Department responded to 6,805 EMS incidents including 120 cardiac arrests and 129 suspected heroin overdoses. The Fire Department responded to 2,439 fire incidents including 206 fires and 374 motor vehicle accidents.
“As announced last year, we have taken delivery of a new fire engine serving the west side out of Station 1 on Weaver Road,” Whalen said. “This has helped us to better serve the city and fire district population.”
Public Services
The Public Services Department continues to maintain streets, sidewalks, buildings, grounds, fleet services and other programs and services.
Transportation infrastructure improvements are now complete or nearly complete on 95 streets in the city. Improvements include complete replacements, mill and overlays and crack sealing. Various sidewalk and bike path improvements were also completed throughout the City.
Park improvements completed include the rehabilitation of the South Fork Park pedestrian bridge and the installation of rubber mulch at the World of Golf to enhance landscaping throughout.
“In the upcoming year, the budget includes infrastructure improvements on 23 streets through contracted work and 73 streets though in-house work,” Whalen said.
The department organized planned and implemented 18 special events, including the Independence Day Celebration and the Spring and Fall. The Veteran’s Day Program acknowledged the return of our adopted troop Bravo Company 101st Airborne Division, 2nd Brigade 502nd Infantry Unit also known as “The Renegades”
The City was also designated as a “Tree City USA” for the 24th consecutive year.
Economic development
In 2015, the development plan for Florence Heights on Mall Road began to take shape with the opening of Costco and Planet Fitness. Later this month Dave & Buster’s will open, with its combination of dining and entertainment options. Menards has delayed their construction plans for Florence Heights and other locations across the country.
“According to all of our communications with their representatives, (Menard’s) remains committed to bringing their store to the Florence Heights Development,” Whalen said.
Also slated for construction in that location are the city’s second Chick-Fil-A, and a proposed Outback Steak House.
Other recent openings in the city include Aldi’s, First Watch, Burlington Coat Factory, Kemba Credit, Gold Star and Raising Cane’s.
Following the City’s annexation of 167 acres of airport property, work with CVG continues on the expansion of Bosch-ZF and other proposed developments.
“While the Florence Heights development is the most visible new development in the City of Florence, we continue to be excited about the 2,500 businesses that have chosen to locate and do business in Florence,” Whalen said. “The significant number of businesses in our community continue to help support those who live in Florence or those from around the region who work or participate in commerce in Florence.”
The city has also entered into an agreement to sell four acres on the Government Center campus to the Northern Kentucky District Health Department for the construction of their new District Health Offices.
Construction on that facility will likely begin before the end of the calendar year.
Blueprint for success
Whalen delivered her first State of the City and Budget Address in 1999. Since that time, Florence has become the eighth-largest city in Kentucky by population, with a diverse community that includes a mixture of retail, industrial, residential and commercial development.
“A city, by definition, is people choosing to live together to create a place where people can work, play, educate their children, and raise a family,” Whalen said. “You all have a big role in making that possible for the people in our community. It is our role to help you be successful.”
While it’s location near major interstates and an international airport has contributed to its economic prosperity, Whalen has always promoted a proactive and forward-thinking philosophy that encourages progress.
Senior staff, including Chapman, City Coordinator Rick Lunnemann and recently-departed economic development director Joshua Wice, are widely recognized as among the best in the region in their positions.
Whalen said that, while the state of the city is strong, no one person or group can take credit for that.
“We are all a part of an ongoing commitment to the progress of our community,” Whalen said. “It is our residents, our business owners and their employees, and the dedicated public servants who come to work every day that help to keep our city on track. You are the reason for our success.”
Contact Mark Hansel at mark.hansel@nkytrib.com