Worthington Approves Up to $2.2 Million Borrowing Plan for Water, Sewer and Trail Projects
City Council declared official intent to issue tax-exempt debt, enabling the city to advance capital funds and reimburse itself for utility and walkway upgrades.
Worthington City Council members gathered in council chambers.
Credit: City of Worthington Image source
Worthington City Council voted unanimously on Nov. 2 to approve Resolution No. 61-2026 for sewer, waterline, and trail project reimbursements. Under the measure, the city authorized using bond or note proceeds in an estimated principal amount not to exceed $2.2 million.
The planned borrowing will support waterline replacements on Caren Avenue, sewer infrastructure upgrades for the Kenyonbrook system, and repavement and maintenance for municipal trails and walkways.
According to city records, the resolution authorizes advancing capital improvement dollars for projects designated as bonded in the city's 2026-2030 Capital Improvements Program. Under the program framework, expenditures made during 2026 can be reimbursed to the capital fund when the debt is issued.
The council action formally establishes an official intent under federal Treasury Regulations governing tax-exempt debt. That regulatory framework permits the municipality to advance money from its general, permanent improvement, or bond construction funds and later reimburse those city accounts from bond proceeds.
Under the resolution, the city intends to complete the reimbursement within 18 months after an expenditure or project completion, and no later than three years after the initial costs are paid.
Council members also introduced an additional appropriations ordinance for a public hearing on Nov. 16 to pay costs for 2025 water main repairs and fund interest due on the 2026 bond issuance.
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City Council Post-Meeting Reports · November 2, 2026 · other
Supporting evidence (4)
Worthington City Council voted unanimously on Nov. 2 to approve Resolution No. 61-2026 for sewer, waterline, and trail project reimbursements.
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WORTHINGTON CITY COUNCIL POST-MEETING REPORT November 2, 2026 – City Council – Regular Meeting 1 | P a g e Members Present: President Rachael Dorothy, President Pro-tem Rebecca Hermann, Joycelyn Dong, Amy Lloyd, Glen Pratt and Maria Ramirez. Members Absent: Pete Bucher. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES Approval of Meeting Minutes Meeting minutes were presented from the July 13 and July 20,2026 Regular Meetings and the July 20, 2026 Special Meeting. COUNCIL ACTION: Councilmembers voted unanimously to approve the July 13 and July 20,2026 Regular Meetings and the July 20, 2026 Special Meeting. PUBLIC HEARINGS ON LEGISLATION Ordinance No. 31-2026 – E-Bikes, E-Scooters, and other E-Motorized Devices This Ordinance makes changes to the Codified Ordinances related to electric bicycles (e-bikes), electric scooters (e-scooters), and other low-speed electric motorized devices. COUNCIL ACTION: Councilmembers amended the legislation to the version included in the agenda packet, amended it again to insert a section that establishes an effective date of February 1, 2027, and then voted unanimously to approve Ordinance No. 31-2026 as amended. NEW LEGISLATION – RESOLUTION(S) Resolution No. 61-2026 – Sewer, Waterline and Trail Projects Reimbursement This Resolution authorizes the use and advancement of Capital Improvement Funds for projects identified as “bonded” in the 2026-2030 Capital Improvements Program (CIP). Any expenditures made in 2026 for these projects may be reimbursed to the CIP Fund when the debt is issued. COUNCIL ACTION: Council members voted unanimously to approve Resolution No. 61-2026.
According to city records, the resolution authorizes advancing capital improvement dollars for projects designated as bonded in the city's 2026-2030 Capital Improvements Program.
Read supporting passage
This Resolution authorizes the use and advancement of Capital Improvement Funds for projects identified as “bonded” in the 2026-2030 Capital Improvements Program (CIP). Any expenditures made in 2026 for these projects may be reimbursed to the CIP Fund when the debt is issued.
Under the program framework, expenditures made during 2026 can be reimbursed to the capital fund when the debt is issued.
Read supporting passage
This Resolution authorizes the use and advancement of Capital Improvement Funds for projects identified as “bonded” in the 2026-2030 Capital Improvements Program (CIP). Any expenditures made in 2026 for these projects may be reimbursed to the CIP Fund when the debt is issued.
Council members also introduced an additional appropriations ordinance for a public hearing on Nov. 16 to pay costs for 2025 water main repairs and fund interest due on the 2026 bond issuance.
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Ordinance No. 36-2026 – Additional Appropriations – General Fund, Water Fund and General Bond Retirement Fund This Ordinance appropriates funds in the General Fund and Water Fund for the purpose of paying the costs of the 2025 water main repairs. An additional appropriation is also made in the General Bond Retirement Fund to fund the interest due on the 2026 bond issuance. COUNCIL ACTION: Council members introduced Ordinance No. 36-2026 for a public hearing on November 16, 2026.
City Council Resolutions · Resolution No. 61-2026 · resolution
Supporting evidence (5)
Under the measure, the city authorized using bond or note proceeds in an estimated principal amount not to exceed $2.2 million.
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RESOLUTION NO. 61-2026 Authorizing the Use of a Portion of the Proceeds of Bonds or Bond Anticipation Notes of the City of Worthington, in the Estimated Principal Amount of Not to Exceed $2,200,000, to be Issued for the Purpose of (I) Designing, Engineering, Replacing, and Constructing Waterline Improvements, with Related Site Improvements and Appurtenances Thereto (Caren Avenue), (II) Designing, Engineering, Replacing, and Constructing Sewer Improvements, with Related Site Improvements and Appurtenances Thereto (Kenyonbrook Sewer), and (III) Repavement and Maintenance of Trails and Walkways, With Related Site Improvements, to Reimburse the City’s General, Permanent Improvement, or Bond Construction Fund for Moneys Previously Advanced for Such Purpose.
The planned borrowing will support waterline replacements on Caren Avenue, sewer infrastructure upgrades for the Kenyonbrook system, and repavement and maintenance for municipal trails and walkways.
Read supporting passage
RESOLUTION NO. 61-2026 Authorizing the Use of a Portion of the Proceeds of Bonds or Bond Anticipation Notes of the City of Worthington, in the Estimated Principal Amount of Not to Exceed $2,200,000, to be Issued for the Purpose of (I) Designing, Engineering, Replacing, and Constructing Waterline Improvements, with Related Site Improvements and Appurtenances Thereto (Caren Avenue), (II) Designing, Engineering, Replacing, and Constructing Sewer Improvements, with Related Site Improvements and Appurtenances Thereto (Kenyonbrook Sewer), and (III) Repavement and Maintenance of Trails and Walkways, With Related Site Improvements, to Reimburse the City’s General, Permanent Improvement, or Bond Construction Fund for Moneys Previously Advanced for Such Purpose.
The council action formally establishes an official intent under federal Treasury Regulations governing tax-exempt debt.
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SECTION 1. The City intends that this resolution shall constitute an "official intent" for purposes of Section 1.150-2(e) of the Treasury Regulations prescribed under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and declares its intention to use a portion of the proceeds of the Obligations to reimburse the City for expenses of the Project advanced from its General, Permanent Improvement, or Bond Construction Fund.
That regulatory framework permits the municipality to advance money from its general, permanent improvement, or bond construction funds and later reimburse those city accounts from bond proceeds.
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SECTION 1. The City intends that this resolution shall constitute an "official intent" for purposes of Section 1.150-2(e) of the Treasury Regulations prescribed under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and declares its intention to use a portion of the proceeds of the Obligations to reimburse the City for expenses of the Project advanced from its General, Permanent Improvement, or Bond Construction Fund.
Under the resolution, the city intends to complete the reimbursement within 18 months after an expenditure or project completion, and no later than three years after the initial costs are paid.
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WHEREAS, the City intends to reimburse itself within 18 months, from the later of the date of expenditure or the date the Project is placed in service (but in no event more than three years after the original expenditures are paid), for the expenditure of not to exceed $2,200,000 for the Project from the proceeds of one or more series of tax-exempt obligations (the "Obligations") to be issued by the City;