Program Overview

To guide the City in making necessary physical improvements, the City Charter requires the Planning Commission to annually recommend a six-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) to the Board of Estimates. Each year, the Planning Department works with the various City agencies to prepare and present a new six-year program. The first year of the six-year program is the budget year and becomes the basis for the capital component of the Ordinance of Estimates (budget), adopted by City Council. City Council votes to approve the Ordinance of Estimates. New in FY24, City Council can make changes to the Ordinance of Estimates, removing items funded with general funds and redirecting the funds to other priorities. In prior years, Council was only able to remove items from the budget. 

What is the Capital Budget?

The capital budget is the budget for capital improvements in the City. A capital improvement is a long-term investment, typically in physical infrastructure, such as roads, monuments, public buildings, parks, or art. Capital improvements are defined by the Board of Estimates as "… any physical betterment or improvement and any preliminary studies and surveys relative thereto, including, but not limited to, any property of a permanent nature, and equipment needed in connection with such improvement when first erected or acquired.”

The City's capital and operation budget totals from fiscal year 2007 to 2021. The total budget has increased over the years. Capital is a small percentage of the total budget.

Over the past ten years, the capital budget has represented between 15 and 30 percent of the total budget for the year. The operating budget represents the remaining 70 to 85 percent of the budget. The operating budget generally supports the day-to-day services and activities that keep Baltimore running, including salaries, funding for programs, ongoing maintenance costs at parks and recreation centers, and the like.

Learn about the process through which the City plans its future capital improvements, go straight to the Current Program – Get Involved page to see the most recent six-year Capital Improvement Program projects, or download this overview presentation to learn more. 

About the Capital Improvement Program Process

The Planning Commission recommends a new six-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) each year. Starting in late September, the Department of Planning works with participating city agencies to solicit project requests, prioritize projects for funding, and prepare the six-year plan.

Once the Planning Commission approves the six-year plan, it moves on to the Board of Finance and then the Board of Estimates for their approval. Finally, the first year of the plan is approved by City Council as part of the Ordinance of Estimates and it formally becomes part of the next year’s budget. Visit the Get Involved page for a detailed timeline of next year’s program.

Process Timeline

  • October:  Planning provides agencies with target ranges for each fund source and instructions for submitting CIP requests. Agencies are given target funding levels higher than what the City will be able to fund. This allows agencies to express additional capital needs, and show what they would do if additional funds were to become available for capital projects.
  • December:  Agency CIP requests are due to Planning Department
  • December - March: The planning staff performs a detailed review of requests
  • January:  Select agencies present CIP priorities to Planning Commission
  • February - March:  Planning Commission approval of recommended CIP
  • March:  Board of Finance review of recommended CIP
  • May:  Board of Estimates approval of recommended CIP
  • June:  City Council adoption of Capital Budget
  • July 1:  New Fiscal Year begins

Evaluation Criteria

The Planning Department has been worked with a CIP Oversight Committee to revise the criteria used to evaluate projects in 2021 and 2022. The updated criteria is considered alongside alignment with plans and Administration priorities, as well as the most urgent needs.

Participating Agencies

The eight agencies which participate in the process and prepare a six-year program each year are:

  • Department of Transportation
  • Department of Public Works
  • Department of General Services
  • Baltimore City Recreation and Parks
  • Baltimore City Information Technology
  • Department of Housing and Community Development
  • Baltimore Development Corporation
  • Baltimore City Public School System*

*Because a majority of its funding comes from the State, the Baltimore City Public School System (City Schools) follows a different timeline for approvals. The Planning Commission reviews and approves City Schools’ requests in September. The approved projects then become part of the larger package as the regular process moves through approvals.

Learn about the capital fund sources that turns the projects listed in the capital improvement program into realities.