Timothy Cummings, director of administrative services, fields questions from the Board of Aldermen about this year's Capital Improvement Program. Courtesy photo/Nashua Community Television

NASHUA – The Board of Aldermen, during its Jan. 13 meeting, was presented with 125 capital improvement requests totaling $719.5 million.

Some of the larger asks in the Capital Improvement Program include $118.4 million for school renovations, $76 million to renovate the Nashua Public Library, $32.5 million to replace Fire Station 5 and $30 million for the Imagine Main Street program. Project funding will be spread out between fiscal years 2027 and 2032.

“We asked department heads to identify their top three projects,” said Planning Manager Samuel Durfee.

Ward 3 Alderwoman Patricia Klee called attention to the $300,000 request for sidewalks and bikes lane project on Lock and Whitney streets.

“We’ve been waiting since 2018 for this one,” she said. “From what I’ve gathered, we already have this money.”

With partial funding from the state Department of Transportation, the project has a priority ranking of 3.56 on a five-point scale.

Timothy Cummings, director of administrative services, said Nahsua’s Debt Service budget is currently $23.7 million, representing 15 percent of the General Fund.

“We have to balance our capital needs with operational demands,” he said, adding that the city needs to maintain a stable property tax increase every year.

Alderman-at-Large Michael O’Brien asked about the funding request from Nashua Fire Rescue for six roofs.

“I don’t think we want rain coming down on the firemen, they get wet enough at times,” he said.

In response, Cummings said $2 million has been authorized for the roofs and HVAC repairs. That project currently has a priority ranking of 4.53.

“It is going to be incorporated into the FY27 Debt Service figure,” he said.