'It's all about the money': Easton dives into five-year capital improvement plan

EASTON, Pa. — Easton’s five-year capital improvement plan will see plenty of major projects, including waterfront development and fire station upgrades, City Council was told Tuesday.

But some officials are harboring concern over funding.

Council reviewed the plan, laying on the expenses for the next few years in anticipation of the mayor’s budget.

And while council and administrators appeared to agree on the necessity of the allotted projects, the question of how the initiatives will come to fruition is up in the air.

All told, capital improvements across all areas will amount to $3,298,567 in 2025, $19,974,567 in 2026, $20,133,417 in 2027, $18,128,768 in 2028 and $4,251,297 in 2029.

While some costs were able to be offset by remaining ARPA money, funding will largely come from the city's revolving capital fund, the general fund, the open space fund and the sewer fund.

But the city may have to invest even more time into pursuing grants — aka "Other People's Money," as Mayor Sal Panto Jr. likes to put it — and potentially even bond issuances, to make the plan happen.

That's especially true with the uncertainty of federal funding, escalating costs and other issues.

Plotting out what to accomplish

Now that the plan is out, the city administration and council will have to wait for the mayor’s finalized budget before they can really plot out what can be accomplished on the list.

City Administrator Luis Campos said that was standard operating procedure, and adjustments are likely to be made.

“The waterfront, the fire stations, and then the evidence building for the for the police department, those are the three large items,” Campos said.

One of the largest projects, the waterfront improvements would see $10 million in 2027 and another $10 million in 2028.

The police evidence building would run $900,000 in 2026, according to the plan.

Modernizing the city’s fire stations remains a top priority, with $3 million going toward the South Side station and $175,000 going to the Central station in 2027; $5 million to Central in 2028; and $1 million to the College Hill station in 2029.

Likewise, plans indicated the new community center would see $6.5 million in 2026, and pool rehabilitations starting with $1.5 million for Heil in 2026 and $1 million for Eddyside in 2027.

'Hope we get the funding'

City Councilwoman Crystal Rose said she recognized the need to work on projects such as the waterfront; she said she hopes it will “more recreation and usage to our very rich waterfront area and maybe better connections to the D&L Trail."

But Rose said affordability remains an issue.

“We’re going to have to put our heads together and find the funding for these projects," she said. "But I think it's good to revisit some of the projects that are happening in the short term and long term.”

Councilman Frank Pintabone agreed that when it comes to putting the capital improvements plan in action, “it’s all about the money.”

“We know we have things to do," Pintabone said. "For me personally, our three firehouses are priority; making sure that our firefighters have adequate quarters that are safe and clean."

“So we're just going to keep working through this with Luis and [Finance Director] Mark [Lysynecky] and hope we get the funding in so we can get these things done.”