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Cleveland budget image of blue dollar signs playing tug-of-ward with a rope.
Credit: Jeff Haynes / Signal Cleveland

It’s Cleveland budget season! The city is required by law to pass a balanced budget each year. That means the city can’t spend more money than it takes in. 

Every February, the mayor sends City Council a detailed estimate of the administration’s budget recommendations. Council then holds day-long hearings to question city officials, and to discuss and debate how the public’s money is spent. 

Besides setting Cleveland budget priorities, these hearings are the public’s opportunity to learn about nearly every department, division, and program in the city. From the Division of Police to the Boxing and Wrestling Commission (it exists!). Some of it is obscure. Some of it is wonky. And there are lots of Cleveland budget numbers to digest. But the information shared can be useful for helping residents understand city government and hold it accountable. 

Signal Cleveland and Cleveland Documenters will be at the hearings each day, sharing what’s important, explaining the process and adding context.

Cleveland budget resources:

Cleveland budget updates


More budget news

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Meet your Cleveland City Council members

  • Cleveland City Council: Stephanie D. Howse, Ward 7
  • Cleveland City Council: Stephanie D. Howse, Ward 7
  • Cleveland City Council: Rebecca Maurer, Ward 12
  • Cleveland City Council: Michael D. Polensek, Ward 8
  • Cleveland City Council: Kris Harsh, Ward 13
  • Cleveland City Council: Kevin L. Bishop, Ward 2
  • Cleveland City Council: Kevin Conwell, Ward 9
  • Cleveland City Council: Kerry McCormack, Ward 3
  • Cleveland City Council: Joseph Jones, Ward 1
  • Cleveland City Council: Jenny Spencer, Ward 15
  • Cleveland City Council: Jasmin Santana, Ward 14
  • Cleveland City Council: Deborah A. Gray, Ward 4
  • Cleveland City Council: Danny Kelly, Ward 11
  • Cleveland City Council: Charles J. Slife, Ward 17
  • Cleveland City Council: Brian Kazy, Ward 16
  • Cleveland City Council: Blaine A. Griffin, Ward 6
  • Cleveland City Council: Anthony Hairston, Ward 10

Here’s some numbers from the mayor’s budget proposal:

  • Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb proposed a $710.8 million budget for 2023.
  • Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb's proposed 2023 budget would bring in $225,282 more in revenue than expenditures.
  • Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb's proposed 2023 budget would cut 41 vacant Public Works positions.
  • Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb's proposed 2023 budget would cut 10 vacant Building & Housing positions.
  • Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb's proposed 2023 budget would add seven positions to the Division of Health, Equity and Social Justice.
  • Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb's proposed 2023 budget would cut 28 vacant Emergency Medical Services positions.

Mayor Bibb’s 2023 Cleveland budget estimate:

Click the image below to open the estimate in a new browser.

Credit: City of Cleveland