Hayden ponders budget increase

HAYDEN - A public hearing is scheduled for today at Hayden City Hall on the city's 2011 budget, which shows slight increases in both spending and revenues compared with this year, city officials said.

Following the hearing, the City Council might adopt the budget, which calls for in increase in spending of about $317,000 compared with this year. That's an increase of less than 13 percent in the general fund budget, said City Administrator Stefan Chatwin.

The budget also shows an increase in revenues of about $116,000, or less than 5 percent, compared with this year.

The $200,000 difference between spending and revenues would be paid for by moving money from the city's nearly $3 million reserve account.

The increase in expenses for 2011 is the result of a possible law enforcement services contract with the Kootenai County Sheriff's Department, Chatwin said.

There also is an increase of about 2.5 percent in the cost of health insurance for city personnel, which is down from an earlier projection of 18 percent.

"We were able to slash this projected increase by increasing employee contributions as well as negotiating a better rate through our broker," Chatwin said.

The city originally budgeted for a $67,000 increase in insurance benefits. It now looks like the increase will be $7,000 compared with this year, he said.

Most of the increase in revenues comes from new construction development fees, he said. The city is having a public hearing on those development fees tonight.

The meeting starts at 5 p.m.