Lakewood Mayor Unveils Proposed 2018 Budget

LAKEWOOD, OH — City Council began considering a new, $129.5 million total budget on Monday. The budget would provide $24 million for infrastructure improvements, along with earmarked money for a public art plan, full court basketball at Madison Park, curb replacement, a Lakewood Park recycling pilot program and more.

“It is essential that Lakewood continue to live within our means while improving our service levels to our citizens,” Lakewood Mayor Mike Summers said. “Equally important is creating the capacity to invest in our second century. This budget achieves all of the above.”

One of the city's ongoing infrastructure focuses has been its sewers. In Sept. 2014, the Ohio EPA granted Lakewood a NDPES permit. As part of that permit-acquisition process, the city agreed to map its sewers, monitor and record storm overflows, address overflows with an integrated plan, analyze alternatives to bring overflows into compliance and bring all overflow discharges into compliance with the Clean Water Act.

To accomplish all that, the city has spent $20 million between 2014 and 2017 on sewer projects. Another $16 million in projects is earmarked for 2018 and beyond.

Additionally, the city released this list of projects it wants to accomplish with its 2018 budget.

• Full court basketball at Madison Park
• Shade structures at Foster Pool
• Upgrade to Webb Park
• Curb replacement
• Creating a public art plan for the city
• Implementing Lakewood’s Bicycle Master Plan
• Acquire and install electric vehicle charging stations
• Lakewood Park recycling pilot program
• Supporting Project Supporting Opiate Addiction Recovery, or SOAR
• Focusing on clean and renewable energy

“The city has continued to gain fiscal strength even with the loss of an estimated $3 million annually beginning in 2013 with the 50 percent reduction in local government funding and the elimination of the estate tax,” Finance Director Jennifer Pae said in a statement. “Despite the end of inpatient services at Lakewood Hospital and New York Life offices moving to downtown Cleveland, the city’s income taxes remain steady due to increased wages, new companies and new residences.”

Summers said in a statement that the proposed 2018 budget is balanced, with revenues exceeding expenses. The full budget can be reviewed online by clicking here.

Over the next few weeks, various committees will hold budget hearings that will lead, eventually, to the passage of a 2018 budget.

Photo from Rick Uldricks, Patch