Fort Smith Board delays approval of capital improvement budgets

Fort Smith

by Tina Alvey Dale ([email protected]) ago 0 views 

The Fort Smith Board of Directors tabled approval of all departmental capital improvement plans (CIP) until after all-day discussions on the city’s 2025 budget, which is scheduled for Nov. 22.

The board typically approves five-year CIP for the various city departments in November before the budget discussion session and approval of a city budget. Director Kevin Settle suggested that perhaps there was a better way to determine the budget.

“It’s always been done this way, but maybe we need to rethink how it’s done because there might be some ebb and flows in that budget discussion that could change these (CIP) plans,” Settle said. “My goal tonight is to add this to the budget (meeting) so when we bring the department head up. … We talk about some things, then we bring the CIP right behind it and talk about that. And then that department head is done.”

He said his goal is to put capital and personal budgets together so the board can look at it as a whole.

“I think this will be a better way of looking at the budget so we can have a holistic approach,” Settle said. “If it doesn’t work this year, we can go back to the way it was.”

Director Neal Martin said he believes the better way to work is to run the budget through and then let each department know what money they will have for the coming year. Departments would then be able to determine the important projects and needs for their CIP based on the amount of money they would be getting. This type of approach will also benefit from approval of CIPs waiting until after the budget session, he said.

City Administrator Carl Geffken said holding off on approving the CIPs until after the budget discussion will not impact the departments.

“The CIP’s are for 2025. In the past, the City has reviewed and approved the CIP’s separately from the operating budget review and approval process. This year, the Board would like to combine them. There will be no delay in any project from starting or making plans for major projects next year,” Geffken said.