Agencies to hold budget hearings
It's budget decision time in Kootenai County.
After months of pencil sharpening and workshops, local agencies, including some with proposed tax increases, will hold public hearings on their proposed fiscal 2009-10 budgets.
Cities are allowed to increase taxes up to 3 percent each year.
Here's a roundup of area cities and the county:
• Post Falls - Post Falls, which will hold its hearing tonight at 6 at City Hall, is not proposing a tax increase and not tapping into its foregone tax balance of more than $300,000.
The proposed General Fund budget is $14.8 million, about $630,000 less than the current budget and $3 million less than in 2009.
Eight positions have been cut during the recession.
City Administrator Eric Keck said the city is shopping around on its insurance that provides the same level of service for its employees for less money.
A hiring and merit pay freeze remains in effect at the city, but Keck said the salary situation will likely change as soon as the economy turns so the city can maintain employees.
The largest ongoing cost addressed in the proposed city budget is $193,919 for street sealing and maintenance.
• Rathdrum - Rathdrum, which will hold its hearing tonight at 6 at City Hall, will consider anywhere from a zero to 1.5 percent tax increase.
"At this point, it cannot be beyond the set tentative budget of 1.5 percent," City Administrator Brett Boyer said.
Any increase will be dedicated to the new Majestic Park, an 11.9-acre park in the southeast part of the city east of Meyer Road next to the water tower.
The city had no increase three years ago, took a 1.92 percent increase two years ago and 1.9 percent last year.
The city's total proposed General Fund budget is about $4.3 million, which is about $500,000 less than the current year.
The council is considering salary increases of 2 percent, which matches the cost of living allowance increase as tracked by the Department of Labor, Boyer said. Salaries were frozen last year.
The council is expecting about a 7 percent hike in employee medical benefits.
More than $200,000 has been budgeted for road improvements. Sidewalk improvements with lights and trees on Second Street in front of the old restored jail is also anticipated.
Other budget highlights include replacing a telephone system that's 17 years old, a police vehicle and police software upgrade.
The city does not anticipate dipping into its foregone tax balance this year to build the budget.
• Kootenai County - The Kootenai County commissioners will hold a public hearing on the proposed budget at 6 p.m. on Wednesday in Room 1 of the Kootenai County Administration Building.
The $71,872,236 total budget is $2 million below the current fiscal year.
It includes a 1 percent property tax increase, which will bring in an extra $372,104 to balance the budget.
The proposed budget also includes a $676,846 increase for the sheriff's department, which would bring the department budget to $19,391,374.
The county vessel budget would also go up to $678,470, a $160,406 increase to cover construction projects for the Parks and Waterways Department.
• Spirit Lake - Spirit Lake will hold a hearing on its $2.13 million General Fund budget on Aug. 24 at 6:30 p.m. at the Community Center.
The current budget is $1.08 million and was about $768,000 two years ago.
City Clerk Barbara Brown said the council is not proposing a tax hike, but is proposing to use some of its foregone tax balance to build the budget. No salary increases and equipment purchases have been discussed, she said.