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Oak Ridge budgets design and debt plan for new animal shelter; construction manager to be hired soon
Summary
The city included design funding for a new animal shelter in the fiscal 2026 budget and outlined a 10-year debt-service example that would cost roughly $600,000 annually; staff said they want to hire a construction manager and get the project to bid in the coming months.
City staff told council the fiscal 2026 budget includes design funding for a new animal shelter and that they intend to hire a construction manager and move toward bidding the project in the next few months.
Randy described the animal shelter as a “dire need” and said the administration will work on a design contract now so the project can be bid in a timely manner: "We need to get that started." Staff also presented an illustrative debt schedule showing the animal shelter debt service at roughly "600 some thousand a year in payments over a 10-year term." Randy said staff will examine financing options with consultants and that the 10-year schedule was the budgeting assumption used for the presentation.
The animal shelter is listed among the three major capital priorities highlighted in staff slides for the year; the others were an outdoor pool renovation design and the scheduled fire ladder truck purchase. The presentation indicated matching funds will be required for some capital grants; staff noted the city will program debt into the debt fund when the obligation begins.
Council members asked timeline questions and staff reiterated that design and the selection of a construction manager are priorities for the immediate months ahead.
