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Town staff outline five-year CIP, warn of facility funding gap for paramedic and police facilities
Summary
Public Works summarized completed and planned CIP projects and said the town has saved roughly $12 million toward a civic center project but still faces an estimated $13–14 million price tag for paramedic and police facilities, implying a funding gap and potential need for phasing, debt, or outside grants.
Public Works Director Rich Siminich told the Ross Town Council that the town’s five-year Capital Improvement Plan is on track for several projects but faces funding constraints for major civic facilities.
Siminich reviewed completed work (e.g., Thomas Court repaving, Ross Common pathways, Laurel Grove phases) and current projects including the Balinas storm drain, Natalie Coffin Green Park pedestrian bridges, and planned Sir Francis Drake repaving. He said the town has saved about $12 million for a civic center project but that construction of paramedic and police facilities could total roughly $13–14 million, leaving a budget shortfall. "You can see the total amount to get to that point where we have a police and paramedic facility is about 13,000,000, almost $14,000,000," he said.
Staff identified funding sources such as road impact fees (1% of building permit valuation), Measure AA allocations, state SB1 funds, Federal Highway Bridge Program grants for Winship Bridge, and limited transfers to the facilities fund. Siminich noted additional funding avenues (grants, partnerships, possible debt financing) but said that without new injections the facilities fund starts to decline and could cross to a zero balance before fiscal year-end 2029 under current spending forecasts.
Council members and staff discussed trade-offs: whether to prioritize undergrounding utilities, roads, or civic facilities; how to phase paramedic vs. police facilities; and the prospects for grant funding. Town Manager Krista Johnson said the annual budget process will present a draft in April and final appropriations in June, and that staff can amend the CIP or propose budget amendments if funding opportunities arise.
Next steps: staff will refine funding scenarios, explore grants and partnerships, and return with more detailed budget options during the April budget workshop and subsequent meetings.
