The capital improvement program, or CIP, for Southlake was approved, but council will meet soon to discuss the priorities in future fiscal budgets.
During the Feb. 17 meeting, more than $36.7 million in planned projects for fiscal year 2025-26, which spans from Oct. 1, 2025, to Sept. 30, 2026, was formally approved. Council got the first look at the projects at a Jan. 6 meeting, according to previous reporting.
City Manager Alison Ortowski and Chief Financial Officer Sharen Jackson presented the FY 2026-30 capital improvement program framework during the Jan. 6 meeting.
The details
Various city departments presented 27 projects utilizing funding from nine different sources, totaling nearly $36.72 million, for the FY 2025-26 capital improvement program. Almost $23.23 million in cash has been allocated to the program, constituting 63% of the overall capital budget, according to city documents.
According to the presentation, the FY 2025-26 cash funding will total nearly $17.13 million, and the remaining $6.1 million is reallocation from other funds.
During the Feb. 17 meeting, council authorized the publication of the intent to issue certificates of obligation for capital improvement projects for $13.49 million. According to city documents, more than 85% of the funds are allocated to the general fund, and the remainder is allocated to the stormwater utility fund.
At the Jan. 3 meeting, Ortowksi said the total cost of the project list for the next five fiscal years is $254.7 million.
What you need to know
Ortowski said the CIP is a balance between new projects and maintenance on existing assets.
Roadways and pathways, at $15.6 million, account for 42.5% of the overall FY 2025-26 CIP.
That included widening Brumlow Avenue from Continental Boulevard to SH 26, extending Southwestern Street and pavement rehabilitation for multiple locations, according to the Jan. 6 meeting update.
Water and wastewater investments of $9.9 million include a pump station at TW King Road, repainting two elevated water tanks and the Loch Meadows Court lift station expansion.
Drainage improvements on Morgan Road and North Peytonville Avenue are part of the $3.6 million in stormwater investments.
Land acquisition of Old Dragon Stadium, North Park turf conversion and funding for the Town Hall Plaza Park are included in the $7.6 million going for parks and community facilities investments.
Stay tuned
Council members France Scharli and Chuck Taggart talked about the barn at Bob Jones Nature Center.
Construction of the barn started in December 2021 and concluded in early 2024, according to a video on the city’s social media channels.
The shell of the barn is done, but no other updates have been made. Both council members asked why that was not in the five-year plan until 2029.
“I'm just bothered that we have an expenditure like that sitting there,” Scharli said. “It's like buying a new car and saying we can't drive it for six years because we are not planning ahead for that. So I'd like to reconsider some of the money that we have somewhere to put toward that project.”
Editor's note: This story has been updated to remove information implying projects would be discussed at a Feb. 25 strategic priority workshop.
