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Council adopts 2026–2035 Capital Improvement Program; staff warn of out-year funding gaps
Summary
Council approved the 2026–2035 capital improvement program (Resolution 25-59). Staff said the plan balances 2026 but leaves unfunded projects in later years and highlighted equipment lead times, facility constraints and a need for prioritization.
City Council approved Resolution 25-59 on Sept. 8, adopting the City of Delaware 2026–2035 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and receiving staff’s overview of priorities, funding gaps and near-term projects.
Finance and public-works staff said they began the budget and CIP process in April and combined engineering improvements into a package for 2026. Staff said the 2026 plan is balanced but noted “out-year” funding gaps for necessary projects and a list of unfunded needs. Major concerns include large mid-size projects (for example, roofs and bridge repairs), cemetery regrading to open burial lots for the next 75–100 years, right-of-way and East Side corridor improvements and the local match needed to secure grants.
Staff also highlighted equipment requests: the initial 2026 equipment requests totaled about $3.4 million (garbage trucks, mowers, firefighting apparatus). Lead times for some apparatus, notably fire equipment, can be up to 48 months, which complicates replacement cycles and cash-flow timing. Facility-space constraints for staff and deferred building maintenance were also raised.
Councilors praised staff work and said the CIP is a useful tool for identifying needs, though several members warned that patching issues without planned long-term investments risks escalating costs. The finance committee recommended approval; council adopted the resolution by roll call. Staff said more difficult budget decisions will be required in coming years to address capital shortfalls.
