By Gregory Korte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Thanksgiving fell on Monday at Cincinnati City Hall this year, and Martin Luther King Day was on a Tuesday.

That's according to a Cincinnati Recreation Commission calendar printed with $10,965 of taxpayer money - one of the many ways the city wastes money on printing, says Councilman Pat DeWine.

Mr. DeWine wants taxpayers to know how much is being spent on all those glossy annual reports, calendars and promotional materials.

Under his proposal, every mass printing would have to disclose how many copies were printed, the cost per copy, and the name of the city official who authorized it.

Many states and federal agencies have similar requirements.

"Ever since I've been on council, I've been inundated with stuff - the things I get from city agencies day after day," Mr. DeWine said. "We're spending a lot of money on things that don't improve basic city services."

The Metropolitan Sewer District produced 1,500 copies of its 28-page, full-color annual report for $11,605, including $4,730 just to design it. Cost per copy: $7.73.

The Cincinnati Parks Department spent $12,000 for a Krohn Conservatory brochure. At 30,000 copies, the cost per copy was 40 cents.

The Cincinnati Water Works spent $11,507 on 20,000 copies of an "At Your Service" brochure. Cost per copy: 57 cents.

"Does anybody have any better water or sewer service because of this?" Mr. DeWine asked at Monday's Finance Committee meeting, surrounded by turkey decorations in mocking celebration of the misplaced holiday.

E-mail gkorte@enquirer.com