Columbus Voters Will Decide on Unarmed Crisis Response in May Ballot Measure

Columbus voters face a consequential question on May 5: should the city build a permanent, unarmed crisis response system inside Public Health?

Proposed Charter Amendment No. 2 would create a Division of Community Crisis Response, staffed by trained civilians dispatched through 911 to calls involving mental health crises, substance use, homelessness, and other situations where a police or fire response may not be the best fit. The amendment requires the division to be operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by January 1, 2031.

The money

The charter language locks in funding: at least $5 million in fiscal year 2027 (the first year), scaling to no less than $12 million annually by FY2031. The funds come from the city’s general fund — not a new tax. An advisory board with quarterly public reporting would oversee performance.

Why it matters

Columbus would join a growing national cohort of cities (Denver, Portland, Albuquerque) that have built civilian crisis teams alongside traditional first responders. The model routes low-acuity 911 calls — welfare checks, mental health episodes, people in distress on the street — to responders trained in de-escalation rather than law enforcement. Advocates argue it frees up police for higher-priority calls while delivering more appropriate care. Critics question whether the funding mandate is sustainable without a dedicated revenue source.

The measure advanced through City Council as Ordinance 0649-2026 and was placed on the May 5 special election ballot, running concurrently with the regular primary.