akron blue ribbon task force

Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan takes a financial report from Tim Ochsenhirt, who chaired the mayor's Blue Ribbon Task Force.

(John Harper, cleveland.com)

AKRON, Ohio -- Facing deficits left by state cuts in local government funds, Akron must raise revenue, whether by increasing taxes, selling assets or a combination of measures, said a task force appointed by Mayor Dan Horrigan.

A blue ribbon task force released its much anticipated report Monday on the city of Akron's financial health. While the group gave mostly positive remarks, with a caveat that the city needs to improve its revenue picture.

Horrigan said he had not read the full report Monday morning, and was unsure exactly what measures the city might take to shore up its dwindling cash base.

"I'm not taking anything off the table," Horrigan said.

Specific recommendations made in the report include selling some assets; the city's golf course and Akron Fulton International Airport are chronic money-losers.

Tim Ochsenhirt, who led the task force for Horrigan, said that Akron is "heading in a positive direction."

"We have weathered a lot of storms and we have done it well," Ochsenhirt said. "Our number one concern in this city is in the area of finance."

The city has lost about $10 million in state revenue, Ochsenhirt said, while also losing residents and income tax dollars.

"I don't mean to sell our future by this, but I think we can monetize (the assets) we have," Ochsenhirt said.