What’s in Akron mayor’s proposed $368 million capital budget

While most of the line items in Akron Mayor Shammas Malik’s proposed $368 million capital budget are standard — more than half the budget addresses water and sewer infrastructure — several financial projects stood out in his administration’s presentation to City Council Monday afternoon.

Gaming rooms at four community centers, along with two new HVAC systems. 

Dozens of new, affordable houses.

And a police and fire command vehicle with a price tag of more than half a million dollars. 

“We are trying to make investments where we can,” Malik told press Friday at a media preview of the capital budget. 

The capital budget, which outlines long-term investments rather than day-to-day expenses, is funded by state (65%), federal (10%), local (23%), regional (1%) and private (1%) sources. The city charter requires council to pass a budget by Feb. 15. 

What is missing from the 2025 capital budget? City departments asked for $46 million in general operating debt, a debt issued to fund the city’s operating expenses, which the administration narrowed down to $12 million, for the second consecutive year. 

Community members are invited to comment on the legislation Jan. 27 in a public hearing. 

City to invest in new youth engagement opportunity

Malik said the idea to spend $100,000 in ARPA funds to add gaming rooms to four community centers was sparked by Eufrancia Lash, the deputy director of service and neighborhood assistance, and Denico Buckley-Knight, the youth and community opportunity director. 

The goal is to make improvements that are geared to engaging youth and at a relatively low cost. 

“We keep hearing that we need safe spaces for our young people and exciting fun spaces for young people,” Malik said. “So, you know, [as] somebody who spent much of their childhood in front of a PlayStation, that’s something we’re gonna look at.”

The locations have not yet been selected.

The city will also spend $500,000 supporting Akron’s community development corporations, as well as an additional $50,000 for the newly approved Downtown Akron CDC.

Housing affordability a concern for Akron

City administrators attended ward meetings in the fall to get an idea of what residents think the city’s money should be spent on. Among their concerns were investments in affordable housing and solutions for homelessness. 

“There’s some good things happening,” noted Planning Director Kyle Julien, who added during Friday’s press event that the city recognizes there is a lot more work to be done around housing availability. 

The proposed budget allocates $1.05 million in HOME funds to construct 163 new, affordable housing units and to rehabilitate 101 existing affordable units.

The city will also spend $350,000 to fill vacant lots (referred to as infill projects) in the Summit Lake neighborhood and $220,000 for miscellaneous affordable housing projects. 

“We’re also looking at really prioritizing, putting emphasis on projects where we’re bringing new affordable housing that sits alongside housing that doesn’t have income restriction, so that we can really be intentional about creating mixed-income communities,” Julien said. 

Rebuilding Together will also receive $400,000 to provide home repair assistance to low-income seniors and disabled homeowners.

$650,000 police and fire command center vehicle rolls forward

City Council previously discussed a proposal for a vehicle that would be used as a hub for police and fire officials during emergency situations and community events. 

At the Dec. 2 Public Safety Committee meeting, At-Large Council Member Jeff Fusco expressed caution about approving the vehicle because of its cost — $650,000 — particularly in “uncertain economic times.” He added that City Council had yet to hear more about the “sorely needed” new police station, and the city is preparing to pay the $4.85 million Jayland Walker settlement over the next four years. 

“I think we have to sharpen our pencils and prepare our calculators and really look closely this time around,” Fusco said. 

While the vehicle has yet to be approved, some of the funds have been earmarked in the capital budget. The city would pay about half this year — $330,000 — and the second half next year when the vehicle is completed. 

As for the new police station, the city is continuing to discuss what will be a multimillion dollar project. 

“So we’ve continued to work on kind of narrowing down our priorities,” Malik said. “Really, at this point, it’s a financial consideration.”

The Stubbs Justice Center is still under consideration to be fully rehabilitated — rather than building an entirely police headquarters, he said. 

In the meantime, the city will spend $1,885,000 to complete the modernization of elevators in the Stubbs Justice Center, as well as $250,000 in additional building improvements.