Akron planning staff outline $368 million 2025 capital investment program; public hearing opens and closes with no speakers

City planning staff on Jan. 22 presented the proposed 2025 Capital Investment and Community Development Program to the Akron City Council planning committee, describing a $368,000,000 proposed capital budget that the administration says would fund street and sidewalk improvements, parks and community center upgrades, construction of the Reservoir Pool, demolition of Rankin Elementary and Goodridge Middle School, affordable housing development, replacement of the city’s remaining 1,700 active lead water service lines and vehicle purchases for public safety and services.

"The proposed 2025 capital budget represents a total investment of $368,000,000," a planning department presenter told the committee, listing local, regional, state, federal and private funding sources. Per the presenter, local funds, regional resources, Ohio state funds, federal government funds and private resources are included in the funding mix.

The program, the presenter said, is intended to support the city’s long-term growth and to "encourage private investment thereby increasing the city's tax base and annual revenues" while leveraging external funding when possible. The planning staff reported focused review sessions on the budget sections for transportation, parks and recreation, public facilities, housing and community services, economic development and water and sewer, and told the committee the capital budget must be passed under the city charter by Feb. 15, 2025.

Councilwoman Tina Pierce Boyce thanked staff for the work and relayed constituent interest in seeing neighborhood-focused investments in addition to larger downtown projects: "...folks that are talking to me are telling me they want to see something concentrated like that in neighborhoods," she said.

The planning committee opened a public hearing, swore in speakers for the record, and then closed the hearing after no members of the public appeared to testify. Committee members did not take a final vote on the budget in the meeting; the presenter noted the charter deadline of Feb. 15.

The planning department said staff had conducted detailed internal reviews on Jan. 6 and Jan. 13 and recommended that council consider the package before the charter deadline. The committee was advised there will be a repeat public hearing at 5:00 p.m. the same day before the full council where the committee can forward a recommendation for approval, denial or to table for further study.

Pending council consideration, the program would fund several multi-year and single-year capital projects described by staff and would use a mix of funding sources described in the staff presentation.