Casper FY2027 budget materials identify $7 million street funding gap, planned borrowing

Casper’s FY2027 budget materials identify a $7 million funding gap for streets and describe planned borrowing for major capital work, including a new police station and the next phase of the Casper Business Center remodel.

The materials list infrastructure as a city priority and say much of Casper’s infrastructure was built in the 1970s and 1980s and is approaching the end of its functional life. The document points to continuing pressure on the city’s street, water and sewer systems as officials prepare FY2027 decisions.

Street gap and capital borrowing

The $7 million figure is identified as a streets funding gap in the budget materials. The document does not describe the gap as a tax increase, and it does not establish a specific funding source to close it.

The city also plans to issue debt for a new police station and other capital work, according to the materials. But the document does not establish that all proposed borrowing has received final approval from the Casper City Council. It also does not provide a final amount or issuance date for debt tied to the police station.

For the Casper Business Center, Phase 3 is estimated at $15 million in certificates of participation. The budget materials say that phase is expected to begin in fall 2026. That is an expected start, not confirmation that construction has begun.

Debt service projected to rise

The budget materials project a $251,613 increase in the debt-service budget for FY2027, a 9% increase over FY2026. The increase is described as covering the first payment on certificates of participation.

Certificates of participation are the financing mechanism identified for the Business Center Phase 3 estimate. The materials also describe planned debt issuance more broadly for the police station and other capital work, while leaving the final scope and timing of the police-station financing unspecified.

What comes next

The clearest stated next milestone is the expected fall 2026 start for Business Center Phase 3. Before then and during FY2027 budget decisions, council action would be needed where required for proposed borrowing; the supplied budget materials do not show that every borrowing proposal is final.

Casper City Council’s March 17, 2026 meeting packet also listed infrastructure, fiscal stability, and communication and public education among the city’s strategic priorities. The FY2027 materials place the streets shortfall and planned capital financing within those stated priorities, but they do not resolve how the city will fully address the street funding gap.