Capital Improvement Program and city budget tentatively approved

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Residents of Yuma County will have a chance to give their opinions on Wednesday evening on some of the major projects happening in Yuma over the next five years.

The Capital Improvement Program is used for big purchases and helps the city take a look at what projects to invest on in the long term.

While local residents decided to not speak on the topic, the City Council tentatively approved both the CIP and next years budget.

However, locals will still have a chance to voice their opinions on the topic and potentially reduce the amount. 

“We want the public to be informed of you know how we are spending taxpayers money,” said active City Administrator Jay Simonton.

The proposed annual budget for the capital improvement program is just over $222 million, while the entire budget for the city is just over $520 million.

Simonton explained how this meeting is crucial knowledge to the public.

“The budget process is the best way to do that to get informed to read the budget book and to understand what makes up the budget you know how much money is the police department spending what is the fire department doing what are we doing at parks and rec,” said Simonton.

Meanwhile, the city explains why the budget itself is so important.

“The budget is the heart of what the city does right, we provide services to out residents you know the street maintenance, the water and wastewater utilities, parks and recreation all kinds of other things,” said City Of Yuma Public Affairs Coordinator Dave Nash.

Simonton also shared what project the public can look ahead to start sooner rather than later.

“East Mesa community park that’s a large CIP project on the east side of town we’re going to kick that off this year it's a big construction project we’ve been asked for parks facilities on that side of town for many years this will be the first project that we get to do,” said Simonton.

The city will have another public hearing regarding the budget on June 5 where it could possibly be approved.