The Capital Improvement Program
The Capital Improvement Program (CIP) forecasts the City's capital needs over a six-year period based on various City-adopted long-range plans, goals and policies.
The goals of the CIP are to:
- Provide a balanced program for capital improvements given anticipated revenues over a six year planning period;
- Illustrate unmet capital needs based on anticipated funding levels, and;
- Provide a plan for capital improvements which can be used in preparing the Capital Budget for the coming two fiscal years.
Capital projects are generally large-scale endeavors in terms of cost, size and benefit to the community. The underlying strategy of the CIP is to plan for land acquisition, construction, and major preservation of public facilities necessary for the safe and efficient provision of services. A critical element of a balanced CIP is the provision of funds to preserve or enhance existing facilities and provide new assets that will aid response to service needs and community growth.
The CIP Development and Review Process
Typically, development of the Capital Improvement Program is a nine-month process, which begins in August of even-numbered years and ends the following spring.
Following adoption of the CIP by the City Council, the projects scheduled for FY10 have become the basis for preparation of the FY10 Capital Budget. The Capital Budget is submitted to the Budget Committee in the spring of each year and adopted by the City Council in June.
Projects in the second fiscal year of the CIP become the basis of the subsequent fiscal year’s capital budget. At the time the Budget is adopted, any changes to project timing or funding adopted in the capital budget process or by supplemental budget action are automatically considered to be amendments to the CIP.
The Capital Improvement Program for FY10-15 was adopted by the City Council on February 23, 2009.
