By JIM BUTLER

Shifting funding designations as the Alexandria City Council did this week as Francine posed a threat is a reminder that budgets are plans not written in stone.

The council moved $500,000 from non-designated appropriation to make it available for storm-related and other emergency costs. As it turned out the storm turned. But the money remains for future use.

Planning for current and future projects is ongoing in government at all levels.

The city’s Capital Outlay budget is a five-year blueprint of projects approved by the council. Projects remain in the budget unless no activity involving them occurs over a three-year period.

There are both general capital projects, funded by tax revenues and federal grants, and enterprise projects, funded by utility system revenues. 

Newly added projects to the General Capital Outlay drainage budget adopted this spring are:

AHA Ditch repair, $400,000 in FY 25-26;

Good Earth Ditch phase 1, $1.2 million, 25-26; Good Earth phase 2, $1 million, 26-27; Dorchester Ditch phase 1, $650,000, 26-27; $700,000 27-28; McAdams Ditch, $750,000, 27-28; Shenandoah Ditch enclosure, $350,000 28-29; Worley Drive Ditch enclosure, $450,000 28-29; Prescott Road drainage, $650,000, 28-29; Dorchester Ditch phase 2, $1.2 million, future budget.

In the current fiscal year is continuing work — planning, design, construction, etc. — on property acquisitions, residential ditch closures, pump station repairs, citywide improvements, Willow Glen drainage, Horseshoe Canal hardening, Chatlain Overflow structure and Fairgrounds /Machine Shop flood control.