About the Project

This Plan (CIP) is a blueprint for identifying the City’s capital (infrastructure/equipment) needs, priorities, and estimated costs.  The plan also provides viable funding options for these capital projects.  The objective of the CIP is to create a logical, transparent, data-driven strategy for investing in the City’s infrastructure needs.  The Plan strives to reflect the priorities of City residents and to exemplify sound financial practices.

The CIP process consists of six basic steps:

• * Inventory and evaluation of infrastructure, facilities, and equipment.
• * Advice and guidance from residents on priorities.
• * Prioritization of needs.
• * Identification of funding options to meet the needs.
• * Matching funding sources with improvements.
• * Formal adoption and use by the City Council.

The process provides an orderly and routine method of identifying and financing capital improvements and makes capital expenditures more responsive to the needs of residents by informing and involving them in the process. Thus, the CIP process should ultimately save the City financial resources.

While much of the City’s budget and financial planning efforts are by necessity focused on one or at most two-year intervals, capital planning can still help focus attention on the City’s long-term objectives and financial capacity.  This will help balance operating and capital needs. Like many communities in Montana, Shelby is often faced with the option of reducing its capital plan objectives in order to balance the operating budget. A formal and adopted capital improvements plan will help to maintain a consistent level of spending for capital needs, barring any unforeseen events.