County staff presented the Board of Commissioners on Nov. 3 with a high-level overview of the recommended FY2027–2033 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), including funding strategies and several proposed changes to project timing and scope.

Staff emphasized that the CIP is a planning tool, not an operating budget, and described the county’s strategy of funding major facilities with debt and smaller projects with pay-go reserves. The presentation noted that inflation adjustments for project cost estimates have increased in recent years and that staff now budgets 10–12% inflation assumptions for some projects rather than previously used lower factors.

Notable project changes and additions highlighted by staff included: pushing the Margaret Pollard (school expansion) project two years because of lower-than-anticipated enrollment; moving some school paving and mobile-classroom projects into later years; a recommendation to increase funding for the Siler City Center for Active Living to add an enclosed front entrance; a Northeast District Park dam project budget increase because of reconstruction needs and access staging; removal of proposed river-access vault restrooms because they are located in DOT right of way and recent floods make those sites unsuitable; and removal of two utility projects now handled by the TriRiver/Sanford merger.

Staff also described two new school-focused projects: districtwide HVAC upgrades and roof replacements. The HVAC initiative includes a life-of-program estimate of just under $64 million and would span many years; smaller HVAC repairs would be funded from capital reserve while larger replacements may require debt funding. Elections staff were advised to begin planning for replacement of voting equipment to meet updated federal voluntary guidance starting in FY2032 to allow training before a FY2033 general election.

Staff noted Chatham County’s favorable credit standing: Moody’s recently upgraded the county to a triple-A rating and the county’s recent refunding achieved an all-in true interest cost of 2.54%. Staff also presented debt indicators from the CIP, including a projected debt-as-percent-of-assessed-value of about 1.27% in FY2028 and a FY2027 debt-per-capita estimate of approximately $3,112 based on available data.

Next steps: public hearing Nov. 17 followed by a work session Nov. 18 and an aim to bring a revised CIP to the board for approval on Dec. 15. Staff asked commissioners to provide questions they want addressed at the work session so staff can prepare detailed materials.

The presentation was given by county staff (presenter identified in the transcript as Ryan) and framed as an initial, high-level review ahead of the hearing and work session; the board did not take final action on the CIP on Nov. 3.