AKRON, Ohio - Mayor Dan Horrigan kicked off Akron's Issue 4 campaign to boost the city's income tax Friday, surrounded by other leaders and emergency services personnel of every stripe.

"Now is the most critical time to take action," Horrigan said. "Since 2008, the city has pinched pennies, and I would venture to say we've pinched pennies since 1981. We've been as efficient as we can and it's still not enough."

Area residents will vote in November on Issue 4, which, if approved, would increase the city's income tax from 2.25 percent to 2.5 percent, to pay for street repaving and police and fire services. The tax hike would be the first increase for public services in 36 years and the money would be divided equally between police, fire and roads.

Akron Fire Chief Clarence Tucker said two fire stations have floors crumbling beneath fire trucks and are held up from below with scaffolding. He salso said firefighters don't have the equipment necessary to protect themselves from the carcinogens they encounter fighting fires.

"This is exactly what we need so we can maintain the critical services we provide to our citizens," Tucker said. "Without it, we're going to have to make some really drastic decisions that I don't want to ever have to make."

Police Chief Kenneth Ball said the department has at least 150 vehicles with more than 150,000 miles on them and that vital positions have not been filled. He said the positions are essential to keeping neighborhoods safe.

Akron City Council President Marilyn Keith said Akron roads are in "hideous condition." Keith also said the city's emergency services are using outdated technology, with emergency medical technicians writing out reports rather than using digital equipment. Keith has done ride-alongs with emergency crews and says other communities' ambulances are far better equipped than Akron's.

"Its no longer a want, it's a need," Keith said. "We still did the same fine job; we still met your needs, but we weren't, and we aren't, equipped properly."

The city is hosting safety forces open houses for residents to tour three Akron Fire Stations:

Saturday, Sept. 30

Saturday, Oct. 14

Saturday, Oct. 28

For more informant, contact Akron Press Secretary Ellen Lander Nischt at 330-275-2325 or send an email.

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