Billings council adopts $502 million five-year CIP after amendments and debate over rates and trails

The Billings City Council adopted the FY2027–FY2031 Capital Improvement Plan on Dec. 8, 2025, after an extended debate over how the draft plan ties to projected utility rate increases and which transportation and trail projects should be prioritized.

City staff presented the plan as a five-year inventory of 128 projects totaling roughly $502 million, with about $103 million earmarked for the first year. “This year’s CIP is 128 projects totaling $502 million,” the presenter said as he walked council through the draft and the forecasted funding assumptions.

Councilmembers pressed staff on how the CIP’s capital assumptions affect future rate recommendations for water, wastewater, stormwater, solid waste and street maintenance. Councilmember Kennedy argued staff should be prepared to revise the public‑works list to match lower rate scenarios and moved to direct staff to scale back those projects; the council debated whether such direction should happen in the CIP process or during next year’s rate-setting discussions. The procedural motion to change the…