JACKSON – It sounds like a plan. A Capital Improvement Plan, that is.

Now, all that’s left on task for the Northampton County Commissioners is a review of the county’s Capital Improvement Budget, scheduled to come across the table in February.

During Tuesday’s board meeting, Northampton County Manager Wayne Jenkins presented Commissioners with a five-year projection of county expenditures based on various departmental needs.

&uot;Each capital outlay item will be considered annually during annual operating budget preparations, prior to being approved by the Commissioners,&uot; Jenkins said.

Although the total projected cost of $1,324,554 listed in the plan is unapproved and tentative, the amount is subject to change pending future departmental requisitions.

&uot;Each department has an opportunity annually to improve and/or update their budget,&uot; Jenkins said.

&uot;For example, the Northampton County Office of Aging, Day Reporting, Board of Elections, Finance/Data Processing, Human Resources, Recreation, Soil Conservation and Veteran’s Departments do not currently project any needs over the course of the plan, but should their situation change, department heads will have an opportunity to request a modification in their budgets accordingly,&uot; he said.

Jenkins also explained that the county would receive reimbursement from a host of sources on several projected expense items, including one from the telephone surcharge fund and enterprise fund as well as another from the state and a percentage from federal funds.

The total unofficial capital needs listed in the plan between 2005-06 and 2009-10 include a requisition of $315,000 for the Sheriff’s Office, $207,000 for Public Works, $153,700 for Social Services, $114,000 for the Tax Department and $71,101 for the Health Department among others.

According to the decision paper, for the purpose of the plan, a capital need is one that costs a minimum of $5,000 with a use life of at least three years.

The Board’s approval of the measure only constitutes approval of the capital outlay plan process and the needs identified therein, but does not approve nor authorize any funding of the plan.