On Friday afternoon, Mayor Shammas Malik introduced an amendment to the operating budget that has the support of City Council President Margo Sommerville.
The amendment eliminates three unfilled roles in the mayor’s office: data and transparency strategist, public engagement strategist and environmental policy specialist.
The mayor’s office will also be reducing “service contracts” — spokesperson Stephanie Marsh explained they will no longer be contracting out for video services for the State of the City address and will do it in-house. In addition, the demolition of the Word Church will be less than what the finance department initially budgeted for, and the finance department is saving money on property taxes.
That means $550,000 will be shifted elsewhere:
- $100,000 for police overtime to deal with “vice issues” (a request of Council Member Donnie Kammer on Monday)
- $100,000 for animal control
- $100,000 for housing compliance
- $100,000 for nuisance compliance
- $90,000 for a Municipal Court grant writer
- $50,000 for City Council’s Neighborhood Partnership Program
- $10,000 for a “baby surrender box program” at a local hospital
“During my time in public office both as Mayor and as Councilman, I have learned how important it is to listen as well as the strength of collaboration and the ability to compromise,” Malik said in a press release announcing the changes. “I believe that’s led to a very strong proposal for this year’s operating budget.”
Sommerville had been working on this type of agreement all week and signaled her support for it in the press release:
“My goal is to pass a responsible budget that will support our city services — including public safety, road maintenance, water/sewer utilities, and many others — while keeping costs in line. With this amendment, I believe we have a strong operating budget for 2024. I want to thank Mayor Malik for working with City Council and our residents on a budget that we can all agree on.”
In a statement to Signal Akron, Council Member James Hardy said he supports the compromise.
“I’m pleased to see compromise between City Council and the administration on the budget. I’m inspired by the hard work President Sommerville put in to this effort on behalf of Councilmembers and the general public. Through this process we will now have more resources going to direct services our neighborhoods and residents depend on.”
