Capital Improvement Plan
CIP Process
The process of identifying projects for inclusion in the CIP generally begins years before the CIP is developed . On a regular basis , the Town updates long range planning documents such as the Comprehensive Plan , Transportation Plan , and the Parks , Recreation and Cultural Resources Master Plan to engage the public and elected officials in the process of identifying long-term capital requirements . These plans are then used to populate the Town ’ s CIP and ultimately result in a completed project . Once complete , the cost of maintaining and operating the project transitions to the Town ’ s operating budget . This multi-year planning and budgeting system drives the Town ’ s CIP process .
The annual process of identifying and ranking projects for inclusion in the CIP begins each summer . At this time , departments are tasked with completing a project summary sheet which summarizes the project and answers a variety of questions designed to evaluate each project .
Project Necessity
� Is the project needed to respond to state or federal mandates ? � What will happen if the project is not approved ? � Does the project accommodate increases in demand for service ?
Fiscal Impact
� How much will the project cost ? � What are the long-term operating budget impacts ? � Are alternative funding sources available ? � Will delaying or not approving the project result in increased costs to the Town ? � Could the project be funded over multiple fiscal years ? � Does the project preserve a previous investment ?
Planning Process
� Is the project consistent with the Strategic Plan , Comprehensive Plan , Transportation Plan , or departmental plan ? � Does the project increase the efficiency of service delivery ? � Who benefits from the project ? � Will any group be adversely affected by the project ?
Project submissions are then reviewed and ranked by cross-departmental teams . This ensures that staff impacted by projects are aware and can share their expertise , which generates efficiencies and ensures that all aspects of a project have been considered . Staff not directly impacted by projects are able to share a non-biased perspective on which projects will benefit the Town ’ s residents most .
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