City Management of Capital Improvement Project Finances

In fiscal year 2019, the city's Capital Improvement Plan(CIP) budget total was $$62,571,835.

At the beginning of this fiscal year the CIP budget was $69,265,200.

At the time of the January budget amendment, the city said the approved 2020 CIP budget was $77,770,171.

A budget amendment was approved at the January 14, 2020 council meeting in the amount of $46,487,128.

The city provides the following description:

In summary, capital projects, maintenance and equipment replacement are continuing in the following funds: General Capital Projects, Streets Maintenance, Community Development Block Grant, Main Street Facade, Parks, Parkland Dedication, Village Public Improvement District, Police Seizures, Georgetown Transportation Enhancement Corporation, Georgetown Economic Development Corporation, Airport, Stormwater and Water.

So now the CIP budget for 2020 is $115,752,328 or $124,257,299 depending which approved 2020 CIP budget one accepts.

If the city could not spend its $69.2M CIP budget in 2019, how in the world do they expect to efficiently and effectively spend $115.8M in 2020 or $124,257,299?

If the staff could not spend $69.2M in 2019, why wasn't the 2020 CIP budget reduced to accommodate the rollover of $46.5M from 2019?

It appears it is time for our city council to start asking the hard questions of the city staff.