Right now the only access to Meadowcroft Park is these stairs. Mt. Lebanon’s capital improvement plan is budgeting $257,000 to make the park more accessible in 2016.

Mt. Lebanon budgets for its day-to-day operations through the Manager’s Recommended Budget, which is submitted to the Commission for approval each December for funding the subsequent year’s operations. Big-ticket items, such as equipment purchases and infrastructure improvements, come from a separate document, the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).

Although the CIP covers a five-year period, Mt. Lebanon is required to publish a new one each year, to accurately reflect any changes in need and priority.

The first step in developing the CIP is asking each department head and staff office chief to submit a list of capital projects they would like to see take place over the next five years. Mt. Lebanon’s manager and finance director review each of the projects and make a determination about including them in the plan.

Almost all of the capital improvement projects in this year’s budget are planned in keeping with the recommendations from Mt. Lebanon’s Comprehensive Plan, a 2013 report that outlines a path the municipality for the next 10 years.

Projects that came out of the Comprehensive Plan include $132,000 for greening the southern end of Robb Hollow Park; $159,000 to upgrade lighting throughout Mt. Lebanon Park; and $257,000 for accessibility improvements to the basketball and tennis courts in N. Meadowcroft Park.

All of those projects further the Comprehensive Plan goal of “enhancing the municipality’s provision of natural and civic amenities for those of all abilities and ages.”

Half of the cost of the N. Meadowcroft Park improvements, $128,970, will be covered by a matching grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Many capital improvement projects receive funding from grants, debt issuance, user fees and contributions.

The 2016 program will address 28 projects, with costs of $12,125,510, but the net tax cost of this year’s projects is $4,160,880.