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WHAT IS THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM?

The Capital Improvement Program (CIP) is a long-range plan that aligns the annual operating

budget, the financial forecasts, and capital improvement needs supporting the goals of the

City. The projects included are needed to advance or maintain the particular function or

service they are associated with. Examples of those functions may include, but are not limited

to, utilities, parks, streets, or the airport.

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The plan serves as a guide for the proposed timing and financing schedule of capital projects

for a five-year period. However, the capital improvement plan is not a document of long-term

certainty. Rather, the plan is reviewed annually, during which time the needs of the City may

be re-prioritized and financial status re-evaluated.

 

 

HOW IS THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FUNDED?

The CIP accompanies the operating budget but only the first year of the program is considered

as part of the funding approval for the upcoming year.  In the process of formulating the plan,

public improvements are prioritized, and costs are projected, thereby allowing the City to take

maximum advantage of federal, state, and other funds that may come available. Throughout

the document, many projects include multiple funding sources where city funds may only

account for a small percentage of the total project cost such as the need for a grant match.

For large capital projects, long-term financing such as general obligation bonds may be

considered, and payments will be spread over an extended period of time.

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HOW IS THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FORMULATED?

Annually the plan is reviewed by all City departments and cost estimates, proposed project years, and potential funding sources are updated.
Likewise, citizens and public interest groups are offered the opportunity to voice their requests for community improvements.
 

Once a composite list of capital improvement requests has been created and the administrative recommendations submitted, the Governing Body is responsible for prioritizing projects from a budgetary and affordability perspective, as well as, examining the need and priority of the projects themselves. The Planning Commission is responsible for reviewing all proposed projects and determining whether the plan
is in compliance with the City’s Comprehensive Plan. A public hearing will be conducted before final approval by the Planning Commission and, subsequently, the City Commission.