Akron City Council approves $368 million 2025 capital investment budget and package of infrastructure and service ordinances

Akron City Council adopted a 2025 capital investment and community development program totaling $368,000,000 and unanimously approved a package of ordinances and resolutions advancing infrastructure work and city services.

Councilman Fusco presented the capital investment budget, noting priorities including lead-service-line replacement, demolition and commercial/residential redevelopment, sidewalk work, tree maintenance and federal ARPA-funded projects. “This budget represents the ending of ARPA funds,” Fusco said. The capital program’s major category totals, as presented, included transportation $50,000,000; parks $13,000,000; public facilities $10,000,000; housing $51,000,000; economic development $9,000,000; sewer $144,000,000; and water $74,000,000. Fusco said local funding was about $84,000,000, state funding about $240,000,000 and federal funding about $35,000,000, including $6,000,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds.

Council also approved multiple ordinances and resolutions on the consent agenda and under suspension of rules. Key items passed 13–0 include:

- Resolution adopting the 2025 capital investment and community development program (capital budget), declared an emergency and passed 13–0.

- Ordinances authorizing bonds for sewer and wastewater system projects: up to $6,200,000 (sanitary sewer reconstruction 2024 project) and up to $10,000,000 (renewable energy facility polymer system improvements); both sold to the Ohio Water Pollution Control Loan Fund and passed 13–0.

- Ordinance authorizing vacation of a temporary right-of-way for redevelopment related to residences at Good Park (portion of Kildare Road and West Sunset View Drive) and related substitute legislation (placed on referral), passed or referred as noted.

- Ordinance authorizing the lease of retail space in the city-owned Broadway parking deck to Deshaun Johnson (Experienced Barber and Beauty Shop), placed on the consent agenda and passed 13–0.

- Ordinance authorizing bids and contracts for multiple public works programs: emergency demolition of 76 condemned residential structures (passed 13–0); water main replacement program (2025); sanitary sewer reconstruction (2024); Rubber City Heritage Trail Phase 2; Kent Street rehabilitation; lead service line replacement throughout the city.

- Resolutions advancing the 2025 arterial and residential resurfacing programs and an unimproved street re-servicing program (all passed 13–0).

- Ordinance authorizing the purchase of winter roadway de-icing materials through an existing purchasing consortium (passed 13–0) after officials said the city had exceeded its maximum for the season and needed additional salt.

- Contracts and emergency declarations to continue or award professional services: clinical advisory services for police and fire peer-support programs with Dr. Veronique Fe Sanganovich (passed 13–0); an IT consulting contract with Eric Jackson to support the 9-1-1 center (passed 13–0); and other professional services and procurement authorizations placed on the consent agenda.

Council recorded routine procedural approvals for the consent agenda and minutes earlier in the meeting. Several items were listed as substitutes or referred to committee when noted by the clerk. No substantive roll-call dissent was recorded; votes shown in the meeting were 13 in favor, zero opposed.

Council members thanked staff and department personnel for preparing the budget and legislation. Fusco thanked planning staff and department employees for their work on the capital program. Several items were advanced under suspension of rules to expedite implementation during the construction season.

The measures passed at this meeting commit the city to start or continue large capital and maintenance programs in 2025. Individual projects and contract awards will be subject to further procurement and administration steps by the relevant city departments.