'Largest in city history': Akron councilman questions $1.3M increase for mayor's office
An Akron councilman is questioning the amount of money budgeted for the mayor's office in this year's budget.
During City Council's first day of hearings this week on the city's new $815 million operating budget, Ward 8 Councilman James Hardy asked the administration to explain the over $3.5 million budgeted for a 23-person mayor's office, which, as far as he can tell, is the largest budget and largest mayor's office in Akron's history.
The budget proposal marks a 59% increase in spending for the mayor's office compared to last year.
Under former Mayor Dan Horrigan's administration, the mayor's office spent over $2.2 million for 11 full-time positions in 2023, an increase from about $1.7 million in 2022 for 12.5 full-time positions.
The proposed overall city operating budget for this year represents a 1.2% increase from last year's operating budget.
The mayor's office now includes the administration and several new departments — the office of strategy; the communications office; the office of diversity, equity, and inclusion; and the sustainability office.
"When I get the inevitable phone call from a constituent asking me what are they getting for that significant increase in mayor's office budget and staff, what should I tell them?" Hardy asked.
"I would submit that rather than an expense, one might argue that we are making an investment in the future of Akron and in the change that members of the community voted for when they voted for Mayor [Shammas] Malik," Chief of Strategy Nanette Pitt responded.
It takes people to put that vision into effect, she said.
Akron mayor's office expansion includes employees relocated from other areas
Overall, eight full-time positions were added to the mayor's office budget.
Finance Director Steve Fricker said four of those positions aren't new. In the restructuring of the mayor's office, they were moved from elsewhere into the mayor's office, resulting in a net increase of eight full-time personnel.
Hardy encouraged the administration to mount a more robust defense of its spending in conversations with residents.
Pitt's answer that the mayor is delivering on his campaign promises is insufficient, he said, and requires further justification.
When questioned by the Beacon Journal, Malik said Akron's success depends on people whose job it is to think every day about public safety, violence intervention, environmental sustainability, education and securing federal and state funding — roles recently created in the mayor's office that Malik said "are critical to moving Akron forward."
He invited Akron residents attend the budget town hall on March 20 at 6 p.m. at Firestone Community Learning Center, 470 Castle Blvd.
Hardy said he isn't trying to browbeat the office over its budget. He just thinks the question will come up, and the administration should be ready with a comprehensive response.
"So if we could start to work together to figure out what all these folks are doing and how are they materially benefitting Akron citizens," Hardy said, "I think that would go a long way toward helping us on City Council explain the expense."
Contact reporter Derek Kreider at DKreider@Gannett.com or 330-541-9413
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron Councilman James Hardy questions increased mayor's office budget
