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Baton Rouge City Council Approves 2027 Capital Improvement Plan, Directing Funds to Road and Utility Projects
The plan commits $85 million to infrastructure upgrades in East Baton Rouge Parish, with allocations expected to support maintenance crews and contract work through 2029.
How we reported this
The Baton Rouge City Council voted 9-3 on July 7 to adopt the 2027 Capital Improvement Plan. The measure authorises bond sales and directs spending toward pavement resurfacing, sewer line replacements and drainage work at 12 specified sites across the parish.
Project Allocations and Employment Effects
Under the plan, $42 million goes to resurfacing segments of Florida Boulevard and Plank Road. Another $28 million targets wastewater treatment upgrades at the North Treatment Plant. City documents list these items as the largest single-year capital outlay since 2022. Local contracting firms that meet parish bidding rules will receive priority for the work, which the council agenda projects will sustain roughly 180 full-time equivalent positions in construction and inspection roles over three years.
Residents in zip codes 70805 and 70807 stand to see the most immediate service changes. The North Treatment Plant upgrades are scheduled to reduce overflow incidents that have closed sections of Scenic Highway during heavy rain. Road crews will begin milling and paving on Florida Boulevard east of the I-110 interchange in the first quarter of 2027, with detours posted through the parish public works website.
Budget Sources and Timeline
Funding comes from a combination of existing parish sales tax revenue, state capital outlay matching funds and a new series of general obligation bonds capped at $55 million. The council’s finance committee report states that debt service will be covered by the existing 2.5-mill infrastructure tax without an increase in the millage rate through fiscal year 2030. Utility ratepayers will see no change to monthly sewer bills under the current ordinance.
Next steps require the mayor to sign the bond resolution by July 21. The parish public works department must then issue requests for proposals within 60 days. Quarterly progress reports will be posted on the city’s open data portal beginning in October 2027, listing contract awards and completed lane miles.