Fitchburg Finance Committee Unanimously Adopts $157 Million, 10-Year Capital Plan

FITCHBURG — June 22, 2026 — Fitchburg Finance Committee unanimously adopts $157 million, 10-year Capital Improvement Plan. The special meeting on June 22 featured presentations from every city department on the 2027–2036 CIP before the plan moves to the Common Council. Mayor Julia announced more than $19 million in project removals, including a $10 million bus rapid transit extension, a roughly $2 million Hasto-Hochi basketball court cover, and a $1 million reduction in the emergency command vehicle budget, now set at $500,000 with Fire Chief Scott Sarver's agreement. Finance Director Misty Dodge acknowledged that lowering inflation assumptions across all replacement funds from 3 percent to 2 percent "is a risk" given current inflation near 4.2 percent, and separately called the city's declining Expenditure Restraint Aid "our black mark" — a structural gap being papered over with fund balance for an estimated 10 years. The largest single increase is $4.85 million in additional borrowing for the City Campus Facilities Remodel. Alder Bill Jetzer noted that the Irish Lane road reconstruction has been delayed in four consecutive CIPs, with construction now not expected until 2030. Amendments are due to Dodge by July 6, with final Council adoption scheduled for July 28.