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Summit County Referendum Could Raise Akron Water, Sewer Bills
Akron residents face potential increases in monthly water and sewer payments if voters approve the November ballot measure to fund local pipe replacements.
How we reported this
The Summit County Board of Elections will place a 0.5 percent sales tax increase on the November 3 ballot to raise revenue for water main repairs across Akron and surrounding townships. Passage would direct the new funds through the Akron Public Utilities Commission starting in January 2027.
City budget documents released in March 2026 show Akron needs $62 million over the next five years to replace aging water lines installed before 1970. Without new revenue the commission projects service interruptions in neighborhoods such as Kenmore and Ellet where main breaks already average 18 per month.
Changes to resident bills and services
Under the proposal the typical Akron household using 5,000 gallons of water monthly would pay an additional $3.20 on its combined water and sewer statement. The legislation states that 70 percent of collections must go to underground infrastructure while the remainder supports street resurfacing tied to the same projects.
Local advocates note that property owners in ZIP codes 44306 and 44314 would see the largest share of work because those areas contain the highest concentration of pre-1960 pipes. The measure does not alter income or property taxes.
Next steps for voters and city operations
Early voting begins October 7 at the Summit County Board of Elections office on South Main Street. The city council has scheduled two public information sessions for July 22 and August 12 at the Akron-Summit County Public Library main branch.
If approved the commission expects construction crews to begin work on 12 miles of replacement lines in spring 2027 with priority given to sections near Firestone Park and the University of Akron campus. Absent the tax the 2026 capital plan shows only emergency repairs funded through existing reserves.