Budget committee refers Akron’s proposed $798 million 2025 operating budget after overview of staffing, ARPA draws

The Akron Budget & Finance Committee on an afternoon meeting referred a resolution adopting the city's 2025 operating budget and the companion appropriation ordinance after a presentation by city officials outlining a $798,000,000 spending plan and the steps the administration is using to close a forecasted fiscal gap.

Mayor Mallon said the budget prioritizes public safety, core city services, targeted youth and prevention investments and fiscal responsibility. "This budget proposes a $798,000,000 in expenditures, which is a 2% decrease from the 2024 operating budget," Mallon said.

The budget presentation to the committee laid out how the administration plans to cover an estimated $13,000,000 shortfall between revenues and expenditures in 2025 by using about $8,000,000 in interest earnings from ARPA accounts and a $5,000,000 draw from income-tax reserves. Mr. Fricker, a finance presenter, described the revenue assumptions underpinning the plan, saying the administration used a 2.5% income-tax growth assumption and state forecasts for local-government revenues.

Committee members heard that 71% of general-fund expenditures in the proposal are budgeted for staffing. The administration is budgeting for 488 uniformed police officers and 402 firefighter-medics to maintain current staffing levels and expects two recruit classes of roughly 28 each for public-safety hires. Officials told the committee that 75 safety positions supported previously by federal grants will be shifted to the general fund in 2025, representing about $7,500,000 in annual costs formerly paid by grants.

The presentation said the city will invest in replacement equipment and new programs: $1,000,000 to replace cardiac monitors in EMS vehicles; $125,000 to expand a pre-K and childcare workforce initiative; $73,000 for a hospital-linked violence intervention coordinator; $125,000 for a youth success summit; and $100,000 for sports and wellness programming aimed at smaller community nonprofits.

Officials warned of multiple revenue uncertainties, including the end of ARPA obligation periods, reductions in federal safety-staffing grants and outstanding questions about state distributions from recently legalized marijuana sales. Mr. Fricker told the committee the city included roughly $1,250,000 in expected marijuana-related revenue in the 2025 forecast but said the statewide distribution mechanism remains unclear.

The committee was also briefed on a pending Cleveland-area sewer consent-decree project: the enhanced high-rate treatment facility (EHRT). The EHRT is currently estimated to cost more than $200,000,000; the city is in litigation over substituting a less costly alternative and officials said any final requirement would materially affect long-term finances.

The committee unanimously moved to refer the resolution adopting the 2025 operating budget and the appropriation ordinance for further consideration. Councilman Fusco made the motion to refer the budget resolution; a second was recorded and the motion carried by voice vote. A separate motion to refer the appropriation ordinance likewise carried.

City officials said the administration will bring department-level budget presentations to council over the coming days and continue to work on revenue and expenditure adjustments. The presentation included an appendix with comparative statements, staffing counts by department and detailed line-item estimates.

The committee did not adopt final appropriations at the meeting; the referral preserves further council review and departmental presentations this week.