Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Capital Improvement Plan topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Finance committee hears $17 million capital shortfall as city kicks off CIP process
Summary
City staff told the Delaware City Finance Committee on Aug. 13 that the proposed five‑year capital improvement plan shows more than $17 million in funded needs by 2030 plus nearly $31 million in additional unfunded projects; staff proposed seeding a new parks capital fund with $1,000,000 and issuing a $2,000,000 note to address mid‑sized priorities.
Delaware City finance staff opened the 2026 capital improvement plan discussion by warning of a large, multi‑year funding gap and laying out priorities for safety, grant‑leveraging and deferred maintenance.
"We're very out of balance. Over 17,000,000, by 2030," Alicia, a city staff presenter, told the Finance Committee, noting an additional nearly $31 million in unfunded projects. She said the CIP guidance gives highest priority to safety, projects with outside funding and items that would cost significantly more to defer. The presentation also flagged grant‑match risk for East Central: staff reported about $2,300,000 in Morpsey funding is secured but that a gap of over $4,000,000 remains for that project.
To seed the dedicated parks capital fund, Alicia said staff plan to transfer $1,000,000 from an old parks‑levy fund into the new parks capital account so parks projects can begin sooner. On deferred maintenance, she proposed issuing roughly $2,000,000 in notes to address mid‑sized needs including new roofs at City Hall and at the Justice Center, pier rehabilitation and grading work at Oak Grove Cemetery.
Committee members asked for a clear list of unfunded projects and for additional detail on how borrowing and fund transfers would affect operating budgets. Councilmember Hoffman and other members emphasized the city currently runs an operating surplus but needs to communicate the distinction between operating health and capital backlogs when talking to the public.
The committee confirmed next CIP discussion dates (Aug. 19 and later dates) and expected follow‑up presentations from public works, police and public utilities as staff refine costs and timing.
