Group files appeal against 2017 Columbus budget – UPDATED

A group of 13 residents, including former Mayor Kristen Brown, have filed a formal appeal against the proposed Columbus city budget for 2017. Russ Poling is one of those residents. He says that city officials are painting an unrealistic picture of the city’s finances. Poling explains that there are two points to the appeal…

As for the second point…

Poling talks about what his group hopes to accomplish with this appeal…

Poling explains that his group is recommending that the city council not approve the budget until this issue is resolved. However, he says that the council is free to do as it wishes.

City officials disagree with the group’s conclusions . Finance director Jamie Brinegar explains…

The City Council is scheduled to vote on final approval for the budget at its next meeting on Tuesday night.