COLUMBUS, Ohio — Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther announced his priorities for the 2026 city budget will include public safety and affordable housing, while allocating money to the "right places" to keep up with the growing city.

The largest chunk of the budget, about $825 million, goes towards funding public safety, the police department, the fire department and also programs meant to curb violence like Operation Moonlight and summer safety initiatives.

Ginther noted that the violent crime rates in the city of Columbus this year are the lowest since 2007. He said homicides are down 35%, car thefts down 18% and non-fatal shootings down 22%. The police department’s homicide solve rate is currently at about 75%.

One trend moving in the opposite direction, however, is domestic violence in Col

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