Multi-year funding is a process whereby the costs of a phase of work of a project are spread out over several STIP years. Each fiscal year of the STIP will show the available federal funding needed that year to complete a portion of a particular phase of work. In the first fiscal year of funding for a multi-year funded phase of work, the Department will only seek federal authorization for that portion of the federal funds shown in that fiscal year in the STIP. The remaining balance of funds for that particular phase of work will appear in the STIP in the fiscal year the Department intends to request Federal authorization for the remaining funds needed for continuation/completion of the phase/project. Each multi-year federal funded project will be submitted to FHWA with the condition that authorization to proceed is not a commitment or obligation to provide federal funds for that portion of the undertaking not fully funded herein. Fiscal constraint will be maintained at all times throughout this process.