Medford Draft Capital Plan Invests $107M In 123 Projects

MEDFORD, MA — The city will release a draft of its first six-year Capital Investment Plan at a public meeting Feb. 24. The plan proposes targeted investments of more than $107.6 million in 123 projects across city and school operations, prioritizing roadway quality, parks and open spaces, fleet and infrastructure investments and management and modern water and wastewater infrastructure.

The draft also identifies potential funding sources, including tax levy, local indebtedness, Enterprise Fund revenues and state and other grant programs that can be used as a road map as the plan is implemented.

Its release comes after a year-long, multi-departmental effort that was funded by a $30,000 Community Compact Grant from the state.

"This CIP lays out our strategic plans for investing in and protecting our infrastructure and capital needs and creating a framework for achieving major development and infrastructure goals, with specific timelines and identified funding options," said Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn. "Failure to plan strategically for such investments will mean more expensive emergency expenditures down the road, which will ultimately impact our city's financial stability and bond ratings."

The effort was led by the Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management at UMass Boston.

"Long-term capital planning is a financial management best practice, and we were pleased to be able to support the city of Medford in achieving this goal. We credit the hard work of the Lungo-Koehn administration, the city's financial team, and department staff across the City and Medford Public Schools in developing the FY2021 – FY2026 CIP," said Sarah Concannon, public services manager for the Collins Center.

Significant expenditures in the draft plan include future planning for Medford High School, fire department facilities, renovation and enhancement of public grounds and park/recreational facilities, streets and sidewalk repairs and maintenance and the replacement of water mains.

"Providing innovative, effective, and equitable teaching and learning practices for all students is the first priority of the Medford Public Schools," Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marice Edouard-Vincent said. "To fulfill this commitment, it is imperative that our infrastructure and facilities are well-positioned to support those practices through thoughtful, comprehensive, and sustainable capital planning."

The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 24. A link is available at www.medfordma.org/mayor/city-events. Once finalized, the CIP will be assessed each year to adjust project scope and financing options as necessary based on financial and other factors.