LEWISTON — Councilors began work on the 2016-17 budget Tuesday, taking their first look at the city’s project wish list.

City Administrator Ed Barrett presented the latest draft of the city’s five-year capital project plan to a joint meeting of the City Council, Planning Board and Finance Committee.

The draft Capital Improvement Plan calls for $18.2 million in projects for the 2016-17 fiscal year, set to begin in July 2016. That includes spending for road and Public Works projects, city equipment and vehicles, water, sewer and storm sewer utilities and the School Department.

“It does not commit the city to any actual spending; that comes later in the process,” Barrett said. “It’s really intended to inform the budget process, help establish priorities and hopefully guide decision making.”

The plan is available online at the city’s website, www.lewistonmaine.gov.

Councilors will host a public meeting to get feedback on the draft Feb. 2. Planning Board and Finance Committee members are scheduled to review the plan and report back by Feb. 12. Councilors are scheduled to vote on the plan Feb. 16.

The plan is not a spending plan but a to-do list of city purchases. It can be adjusted, pushing some projects or purchases back and delaying them until years from now. Staff uses the plan to assess council priorities and will use it to help build the fiscal year 2016-17 budget. Barrett said councilors usually end up adopting about 70 percent of what staff first proposes.

“Historically, the amount councilors authorize each year is much less than the CIP calls for,” Barrett said.

Projects on the list for 2016 so far include:

• $350,000 for Lewiston’s share of a parking lot at the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport;

• $500,000 to replace radios for police, fire and 911;

• $55,000 for sound and video upgrades to the City Council chamber system;

• Expansion of the Lisbon Street fire substation; and

• $372,000 for a Kennedy Park master plan.

School projects include $4.7 million for a new elementary school, $389,000 to continue purchasing Chromebook computers for the high school and a $100,000 telephone upgrade at Lewiston High School.

staylor@sunjournal.com

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