The Linn County Board of Supervisors gave preliminary approval to the FY26 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) at its Jan. 6 meeting, endorsing a five‑year project list funded at $1.2 million for the upcoming fiscal year and placeholder amounts in later years.

Darren Gage, director of policy administration, and Sarah Barrows, budget director, reviewed the plan and described 24 projects submitted by eight departments across fiscal years 2026–2030. The board’s FY26 approvals cover the first‑year funding; later years are presented as placeholders.

Significant FY26 projects identified in the presentation included:
- Security camera upgrades at the county jail (phase 5): a multi‑year effort to replace analog cameras, upgrade live monitoring and add new cameras.
- Evidence storage build‑out at the Highway 13 county property (Building 1): $100,000 to convert county‑owned space so the sheriff’s office can consolidate off‑site rented garages.
- ADA accessibility improvements: $100,000 earmarked for the winter weather shelter as part of the county’s multi‑year compliance plan.
- Sheriff’s radio replacement (phased): $650,000 allocated across multiple years to replace aging portable and mobile radios; presenters said some radios are beyond their parts and service life and cited a typical six‑year life cycle.
- Records management and digital evidence system: a county–city joint upgrade budgeted at $3.5 million total; the city of Cedar Rapids would pay half and the county’s share was presented as $1,750,000 (with $550,000 shown from 60.40 funds in the plan).
- Server and civil process software migration for the sheriff’s office: replacement and migration to cloud hosting to address software end‑of‑support and security concerns.

Gage showed a five‑year breakdown of CIP requests and flagged that sheriff’s projects represent roughly $3.3 million of the $6 million reflected in the presented five‑year CIP — about half of the available funds — noting that equipment needs are substantial. Presenters and supervisors discussed revenue pressures tied to E‑911 funding: declining landline revenues reduce 911 fee receipts, which historically supported portions of radio and tower costs. County staff and supervisors discussed options including intergovernmental billing, legislative advocacy and budget tradeoffs but did not adopt a specific long‑term financing change at the meeting.

Facilities director Luke Fisher noted industry benchmarks (roughly $1–$4 per square foot annually for capital upkeep) and recommended planning for higher long‑term CIP levels; Gage said he would propose raising the annual CIP allocation from $1.2 million to $1.5 million in later budget proposals.

The board voted to preliminarily approve the FY26 CIP plan. The motion passed by voice vote; no roll‑call tally was recorded in the transcript.

Why it matters: the CIP contains both life‑safety and deferred‑maintenance projects; the board’s choices will influence bond and operating budgets and the county’s ability to maintain buildings, radio interoperability, and public‑safety communications. Staff will present more detailed budget figures during upcoming budget sessions.