Last week, Akron Mayor Shammas Malik’s administration unveiled the proposed $368 million capital budget for 2025. 

While the city’s operating budget, which will be proposed in the coming weeks, focuses on the cost of keeping things running, the capital budget is all about long-term, typically larger investments. Inside the 43-page document are a number of projects the city thinks are worth paying for this year — from street repairs and lead pipe removal to gaming rooms and a pickleball court. 

Now that the budget has been presented, it is up to City Council to approve it, or at least an amended version of it, by Feb. 15, as required by the city charter. Community members are invited to comment and express their opinions about the legislation, during a Jan. 27 public hearing. 

To help you prepare, here are some budget items of note:

Transportation ($50,100,280)

  • Improvements to North Main Street, which will begin in 2025, will cost $8.5 million. The project includes resurfacing the existing pavement and repairing the subbase, which is the layer below the pavement. The construction will also include implementing a road diet — reducing the number of lanes through striping — and bringing curbs and ramps up to current ADA standards.
  • $500,000 for speed reduction projects such as speed tables, curb extensions and radar signage. 
  • $5.75 million for the city’s annual road resurfacing program, which includes 34 new miles and 14 carryover miles from 2024. 

Parks and recreation ($13,404,450)

  • $100,000 for gaming/e-sport rooms at four community centers. 
  • HVAC replacement at Firestone Park ($216,000) and Joy Park ($102,000) community centers. 
  • A new concrete pickleball court at Firestone Park Community Center ($75,000). 

Public facilities ($10,671,000) 

  • $1 million in improvements for the Canal Park Stadium restrooms on the concourse level. 
  • $2 million for the Cascade Parking Deck rehabilitation and $1.5 million for completing the elevator renovations.  
  • $250,000 for the city’s new parking deck maintenance program, which will remediate safety concerns.
  • Additional parking deck improvements: The CitiCenter deck entrance ($150,000) and the High/Market parking deck ($100,000).
The Harold K. Stubbs Justice Center.
The Harold K. Stubbs Justice Center, built in 1966, would receive $250,000 for improvements in the 2025 capital projects budget being proposed by the City of Akron. (Susan Zake / Signal Akron)

Miscellaneous ($51,379,932)

  • $3.6 million to replace police, fire and service vehicles that have reached the end of their life, including upfitting 23 trucks with snow and ice equipment. 
  • $330,000 for the initial payment on a mobile communication center, a vehicle that would be used as a hub for police and fire officials during emergency situations and community events. The total cost will be $650,000. 
  • $250,000 for improvements to the Stubbs Justice Center. 
  • $750,000 for the replacement of trees in Akron, $400,000 for removal of dead or dying trees and $600,000 for trimming. 

Housing and community services ($9,630,752)

  • $2,462,500 for the first year of the city’s lead-based paint program. The program will address a minimum of 250 homes in Akron with lead-based paint. 
  • $568,000 to support homeless shelters. 
  • $400,000 for minor home repairs for low-income, older adult and handicapped homeowners. 
  • $400,000 for the demolition of vacant, abandoned or deteriorated property. 

Economic and job development ($13,860,000)

Sewer ($144,129,000) 

  • $78.3 million for the carryover of the Northside Interceptor Tunnel. 
  • $15.5 million for the Enhanced High Rate Treatment System, which is the last project of the Federal Consent Decree issued in 2009 that requires the city to complete a number of sewer projects. 

Water ($74,861,270)

  • $8.75 million for the Lead Service Line Replacement Program, which will replace the remaining 1,700 active lead service lines in Akron. The completion is projected for the end of 2025.

Community & service reporter (they/them)
Davis Saunders was Signal Akron’s community & service reporter. Davis studied journalism and art at Kent State University, and they are passionate about the intersection of the two disciplines.

Although Davis grew up in metro Detroit, they have always been an Ohio State Buckeyes fan. After living in Kent the past few years, they are excited to explore more of Akron, especially the coffee shops.

At Signal Akron, Davis hopes to serve underrepresented communities by creating more accessible content.