FAIRLAWN: The city is in sound financial shape, with income tax revenue climbing 3.5 percent last year over the previous year, Mayor Bill Roth said Monday during his annual State of the City speech.
The revenue rose from $11.7 million to $12.2 million.
“We cannot attribute this increase to one business,” said Roth, the longest-serving mayor in Summit County. “We’re not a one-company town.”
Thirty-four businesses increased their payroll taxes by at least $5,000, he said.
Roth delivered his talk — his 22nd State of the City — during a Fairlawn Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Hilton Akron/Fairlawn. Speaking to business owners and executives, he provided a snapshot of the city’s condition, along with numerous statistics.
Highlights included:
• The number of home foreclosures in the community has fallen from 27 in 2014 to 10 in 2015 to four last year.
• The real estate market is improving, with 88 single-family homes selling last year, and the average sale price was $214,596. “The market is recovering,” Roth said.
• The recycling center collected about 2,000 tons of waste. The city set a record on its “shredding day,” taking in 34,000 pounds of office paper and 17 tons of cardboard.
• Health insurance costs for the city will rise only 2.6 percent this year.
• City leaders hope to have FairlawnGig, the city’s new broadband utility, up and running throughout the entire community and Joint Economic Development District (JEDD) by September or October. The city also expects to extend the service outside the city boundaries.
At the end of his speech, Roth was asked whether Macy’s will remain at the Summit Mall. The retailer announced plans last week to shutter 68 stores. Macy’s closed its location at Chapel Hill Mall in Akron last year.
The mayor turned to Councilman Rick Herbert, who works for the company, for assistance in answering the question. Herbert told the crowd that the Fairlawn Macy’s isn’t on the list “so I would say definitely that Macy’s is staying at the Summit Mall.”
The audience applauded the answer.
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at @armonrickABJ