Delaware City Council has approved the City’s latest five-year Capital Improvement Plan, which outlines major infrastructure and equipment projects planned from 2026 through 2030.

The CIP is updated each year and serves as the City’s roadmap for keeping up with important needs like street improvements, facility maintenance, and essential equipment purchases. Projects are prioritized based on public safety, outside funding opportunities, maintaining core services, and avoiding higher costs down the road.

Funding Pressures Ahead

The CIP gives priority to projects that protect public safety, leverage outside funding, maintain essential operations, avoid higher future costs, or generate offsetting revenues.

The plan shows balance in 2026, with no deficit projected. However, funding gaps quickly emerge in later years: a projected shortfall of $1.4 million in 2027 grows to more than $17.5 million by 2030.

Unfunded Projects Remain

The City continues to face difficulty providing the local matching dollars required to secure outside grant funding. For example, while some grant dollars are secured for the long-anticipated East Central Avenue improvements, an estimated $6.9 million gap remains. Other east side transportation upgrades also remain unfunded.

In addition, equipment purchases such as garbage trucks, fire apparatus, and mowers total $3.4 million in 2026 alone, with delivery lead times for some large vehicles extending up to four years.

Projects scheduled for 2026 include roof replacements at the Justice Center and City Hall, re-grading at Oak Grove Cemetery, and repair of a pedestrian bridge - with a combined cost of just under $2 million.

The CIP review process included evaluation by the Finance Committee and the Planning Commission, which ensures consistency with the City’s comprehensive plan, and a public hearing and vote by the City Council.

 The CIP is available for public review here.