TOLEDO, Ohio — As the new year approaches, the city of Toledo is sharing its financial proposal for the 2025 budget and prioritizing a few areas in particular, like a stronger presence of first responders.
"I think the big takeaway is that this is a budget that invests in our police and our fire," said Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz.
The city is looking to bring in a new police class with 30 officers and a fire class with 20 firefighters.
Kapszukiewicz said the budget also addresses $21 million spent on vehicles and equipment.
"There are millions of dollars in this budget for the tools and technology and equipment that our police and firefighters need," he said. "Whether it's new squad cars, new equipment for our public safety forces."
Public safety accounts for 64% of the budget, costing more than $230 million. The mayor says the proposed budget would increase police and fire salaries by 4%.
With more than $150 million in grants awarded, the city also plans to complete a few major projects within the first few months.
"The $150 million we've brought in on a per capita basis, puts us better than any other city in Ohio, with the exception of Cleveland," Kapszukiewicz said. "Whether it's the completion of the brand-new YMCA over in the Wayman Palmer neighborhood, which should be done in February or March, whether it's the new splash pad and the overall facelift that we're making to Savage Park in the core of our community. Whether it's the beginning of what will be 15 years worth of improvements to the Bayview Wastewater Treatment plant, all of those capital needs are addressed in this budget as well."
The budget includes $250,000 to continue past programs, such as the summer youth programs keeping kids busy in the summer.
"We learned during the pandemic how important it is to make sure that kids have positive things to do during the summer. I think that's one of the, it's not the only reason, but I think it's one of the reasons that we've seen our crime statistics improve so much over the last couple of years, is the fact that kids have had positive things to do during the summer. So, we decided to invest in that, put $250,000 toward youth programming," Kapszukiewicz said.
With the elimination of 55 vacant positions, the mayor said the budget saves $60 million for the rainy day fund.
He also said due to an increase in the city's bond rating, taxpayers will be paying less money when it comes to big projects.