Displaying items by tag: Linda Omobien

The City of Akron Blue Ribbon panel report is now being studied by Mayor Dan Horrigan.

The panel spent the last three months studying the city's government to make suggestions for where Horrigan should start as mayor.

Tim Ochsenhirt was chairman of the Blue Ribbon Panel. He says it all starts with the city's financial picture when trying to determine what can be done next.

"To recognize the position we're in now, and to try to determine how they can best, absent a tax increase, that's always an easy way," Ochsenhirt tells WAKR's Jasen Sokol, "how we might accomplish better financial management of our funds and assets and resources right now."

Ochsenhirt says to fund suggested improvements, it takes money. But a tax increase is not on the table.

"There are) ways to try to increase revenue by closing a few doors that are open, and taking some new ideas, maybe having less subsidies on behalf of the city of Akron," Ochsenhirt says.

Council member at large Linda Omobien was the only city council member on the panel. She talks about the city's financial challenges.

"The financial staff have done a pretty good job of managing our financial situation," Omobien tells WAKR's Jasen Sokol, "but we really need to look at ways to start saving revenue, using our assets to try to find more revenue to come into the city."

Omobien also says a tax increase is not the answer.