In addition to the 5 year capital improvement outlooks that are put into place by City Council, the City is seeking to engage residents and local businesses in discussing a 10-year capital improvements plan. Essentially, the plan would encompass everything that Tipp City is and wants to be over the next decade. To put this into perspective, for parents who have young children in Nevin Coppock today, these capital improvement plans will determine the condition of the roads, parks, fire and police service on the day your child graduates from High School.
The budget calculations that have been shared with TippNews DAILY as well as other news resources identify a revenue shortfall of nearly $12 million dollars over the 10-year period. The draft copy of these calculations has been provided by City staff to City Council however they have not officially adopted it. Simply stated, in order to keep the roads and other capital equipment in the same condition as they are today, the City will be $12 million short. That financial shortfall would occur without any “vanity” improvements like burying electric cables, improving curbs and gutters, providing public safety equipment or enhancements, park landscaping, etc. over the period.
The stated goals of the capital improvement plan are:
- Determine financial resources necessary to maintain and improve the City’s capital needs.
- Explore revenue options to meet financial resource needs necessary to maintain and improve the City’s capital needs.
How you can Help
While many of the City’s financial objectives are met by short term tactical solutions (i.e. cutting office expenses, replacing engines in police cruisers instead of buying new ones), the City Manager is seeking the input from the public as to how the City should fund its continued and growing capital needs. As a member of our community serving on this budgetary commission, you would be able to review the current financial state of the City, its expected capital needs over the period and then help to craft capital improvement plans that meet our City’s financial capabilities. If additional budgetary cuts should be made over the next 10 years, this commission can help come up with what those would look like. If there are tax levies in our future, the commission will also help to determine the size and the timing for those.
In October, City Council will be reviewing the 5 year Capital Improvements Plan. Anyone interested in serving on the 10-year Capital Improvement Plan committee should contact Jon Crusey, City Manager by September 13th. Jon can be reached at: (937) 667-8425.
Click here to download the 10-year Capital Improvement Plan projections
