NORWOOD, Ohio -- Last summer, crews from Cincinnati repaved half of Cypress Way. Residents like Stephanie Ryall expected the other side would be repaved soon after.
The road sits on the Cincinnati-Norwood city line. A year later, the half of the road owned by Norwood remains bumpy, cracked and uneven.
"It's definitely uncomfortable," Ryall said. "And your kids, if they're asleep, they're waking up for sure."
Norwood Mayor Thomas Williams said it's the result of a fiscal emergency and the city having no funds to spare.
"Ask them, 'How are you going to pay for that?' Where are you going to get the millions of dollars?" Williams said.
Last week, a similar issue popped up on Section Avenue. City of Cincinnati contractors repaved the Rhode Island Avenue side of the street. Norwood's side remains worn down.
Williams said Norwood's funding problem goes back years. Money that could have gone to repaving had to be moved to cover the payroll and bills, he said. More recently, the Norwood City Council and a fincancial committee have adopted a plan they hope will help their fiscal situation, but it will take some time.
"Millions of dollars of development have come in and the jobs are coming," Williams said. "Now it's a matter of getting it flowing on, but at the same time we have to reduce our operating cost."
Williams said he doesn't want to raise residents' taxes, but officials might be more willing to ask residents for more once the city proves its ability to balance cutting costs while maintaining services.
"Then you go to the people and say, 'We would like for you to vote for a levy to do streets and only streets, it can't be used for anything else,'" he said.
In the meantime, residents will have to make due with the roads they have.
"I pretty much just drive on the nice side, the Cinicnnati side, unless there are cars coming," Ryall said.
