Tempe officials are examining $1.9 billion in proposed capital projects over the next five years to address issues throughout.
The amount is a jump from each of the past two years as the city and others in the Valley have been buffeted by inflationary costs jumps on all projects. The projects in the five-year proposal last year totaled about $1.82 billion, and for the one in 2022, it was about $1.51 billion.
A bulk of the money estimated for these projects will support the city's water, wastewater, park improvements, general governmental, transit and transportation programs.
During the Tempe City Council’s Feb. 22 work study session, Chief Deputy City Manager Tom Duensing and Financial Services Director Lisette Camacho introduced to council the five-year capital improvement program. The two covered all capital projects submitted across the city’s departments.
No official decisions were made as the presentation was intended to inform council members about specific needs, answer questions and allow councilors to propose projects as they see fit.
Duensing said in the city’s annual budget development process, there are two separate processes: one for capital improvements and one for the city’s operating budget. Development of the capital improvement program is where the city begins in creating its capital improvement budget.
“It’s very important that we have a plan set out, so the council and the public can see what are the capital needs that have been identified by the departments,” Duensing said.
The five-year plan also will serve as the basis for the upcoming November bond election, where the city will ask voters to approve funding for capital improvement projects. Council is still considering what measures will be on this ballot and how much the city will ask to spend.
Of note, Duensing highlighted certain previously discussed projects, including $32 million to be allocated to affordable housing over four years, $12.2 million to the preservation of historic properties and an additional $134 million for pavement rehabilitation.
Camacho provided a brief overview of the CIP document containing all of the proposed projects, which is available to the public at www.tempe.gov and has hyperlinks to all related documents for each project.
“This document contains all the proposed projects for the five-year capital improvement program for fiscal year 2025 through fiscal year 2029,” Camacho said.
Staff will return to city council at its March 25 work study with their initial recommendations for this year’s five-year CIP, providing them with public input on the proposed projects gathered from various forums.
Reporter Caroline Yu can be reached at cyu@iniusa.org. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
Meet Caroline Caroline Yu joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2020 as a summer intern covering Scottsdale. As an intern, she continued her coverage of Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and Tempe. After graduating in 2022, Caroline became a full-time reporter for Scottsdale and Paradise Valley. She is currently reporting for the Tempe market.
Community: She is a supporter of the environment and tries to get involved with related community events.
Education: Arizona State University with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications, with a minor in French.
Random Fact: She used to be a ballet dancer for 10 years.
By 
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here