Fremont council approves $66 million budget focusing on roads

Fremont City Council has approved a $66 million budget with a 10% cut in general fund spending. The budget focuses less on parks and more on improving local roads. The council voted unanimously on Thursday night for total appropriations of $66,051,658 after three readings. The parks budget is seeing a significant reduction of 55%. This is due to the completion of a new amphitheater last year. The funding for parks will drop from $2.62 million in 2024 to $1.18 million in 2025. City Auditor Paul Grahl noted this change as part of the budget plan. City tax revenue collections have exceeded expectations. The 2024 estimate was between $11.8 million and $12.4 million, while the budget for 2025 expects $11.9 million. Mayor Danny Sanchez highlighted upcoming local road projects. He expressed excitement about plans to pave streets across the city, funded mostly by grants and local matches. The exact list of street improvements has not yet been released, but $480,000 is allocated for general neighborhood upgrades. Other allocations include $330,000 for Bloom Road, $553,000 for Dickinson Street, and $250,000 for Ohio 53. There is also $183,000 for design work on a future project on Oak Harbor Road. Sanchez emphasized the importance of improving neighborhood streets, which often do not receive state or federal grant support. He assured residents that park improvements will continue, noting funding for new benches and signage at the Kiwanis All-Inclusive Play Park. But he warned that available funds are insufficient to cover all necessary work, emphasizing a strategic approach for future budgets.