ATTLEBORO - Mayor Kevin Dumas submitted a capital improvements plan worth about $7 million to the city council Tuesday.

The document includes 55 possible projects affecting 19 city departments.

While the list is extensive and expensive, Dumas said it was only the first step in whittling down the number to something the city can afford.

"These are the projects that I think are important and need to be addressed," Dumas said after submitting his list, which came earlier than any capital plan in many years.

"I'm not sure which ones will be funded, but at least we're starting the process," Dumas said The early submittal will give councilors more time to discuss the items and interview department heads, he said.

Funding will come from the city budget, free cash, grants, state highway money or fees, in the case of the water and wastewater departments.

A recent focus on matching available funding with projects has yielded good results, Dumas said.

In this budget year, 81 projects have been completed or are in the process of being completed, he said.

Not all of the projects were started this year, such as the $29 million Coelho School reconstruction.

In addition to school construction, there were about $3.6 million in projects completed.

GEORGE W. RHODES can be reached at 508-236-0432 or at grhodes@thesunchronicle.com.