County commissioners approve budget

COEUR d'ALENE - Kootenai County can look forward to a lighter budget this upcoming fiscal year.

Following a public hearing on Wednesday night, the county commissioners unanimously approved a $72,151,802 budget for the 2010-11 fiscal year.

The budget is a $1.59 million drop from this past fiscal year.

"It's lean. We're not taking any of the 3 percent tax increase that's allowable, our employees are not given any raises or increases," said Commissioner Todd Tondee after the vote. "We understand these are lean times."

Commissioner Rick Currie said the county has helped save taxpayers money as an entity with self-funded insurance.

"This year, our increase in health care costs we anticipate to be less than 1 percent," he said. "That is a tremendous figure. The employees of Kootenai County are to be commended because they make it work."

County Finance Director David McDowell pointed out significant revenue increases in the budget, like $300,000 for the Recorder's Office from recording fees.

That will go toward upgrading recording software and updating the archives, he said.

"That will be an extensive and multi-year process," he said.

Election fees have brought in $200,000 for the Elections Office, which will go toward items like computer maintenance, election supplies and new personnel.

The sheriff's department anticipates a $75,000 increase from prisoner housing.

"We're projecting an additional inmate population. Hopefully that will generate revenue as well as offset costs that will be incurred," he said.

Significant revenue decreases include $2,149,579 for the Solid Waste Department, the result of a new major recycling program and a slower building climate, McDowell said.

The county's General Accounts face a $609,439 decrease, too, on account of depressed interest rates.

"It's no secret that you don't get interest nowadays," McDowell said. "And the investment pool is smaller too, which has a very significant impact."

There are significant expenditure increases, as well, though.

The sheriff's department will see a boost of $757,712 to contract medical services.

"That will provide 24-hour coverage that was not available previously," McDowell said.

The cost will be offset by $521,647 in budget decreases, he added.

Another $136,430 will go toward eight new patrol vehicles for the sheriff's department, he said, and $206,000 for 911 enhanced communications computer equipment.

Other expenditures include $125,000 for engineering studies for a landfill expansion at Fighting Creek, and $155,846 in recording software for the county clerk.

Construction of a leachate treatment facility will cost $195,238.

"This does enhance the delivery of gas to the new electricity generating activity with Kootenai Electric," McDowell said of the recent contract for the utility to generate electricity from landfill gas.

McDowell said that out of 18 and a half personnel requests, the only ones approved were a new full-time employee in elections, a full-time employee in the sheriff's department, and five part-time employees in the noxious weeds, parks, waterways and snowgroomers departments.

The county will also fund a mental health coordinator for district court that was previously funded by the state.

"The county has agreed to fund that for one year, and the state committed to bringing back the funding next year," McDowell said of the position with a $43,967 salary.

There was an overall reduction of five employees this year, he added.

This was accomplished by taking out the nursing staff at the jail and converting that to a contracted service.

"Those individuals were picked up by the contractors. They're not losing their jobs," he said.

He pointed out that the 2011 fiscal year property tax levy rate is .29 percent, compared to the 2007 rate of .18 percent.

The rate has been driven up as the net taxable market value in the county has plummeted, he said. The 2011 net value is at $12.9 billion, he said, compared to the 2007 value of $14.5 billion.

"It's substantially below the 2007 market value," he said.

Only two members of the public spoke at the meeting.

Bev Twillmann wondered if the county should sell the airport to a private company instead of funding it. Appraiser Ed Morse questioned if the commissioners were honest about not raising property taxes.

Commissioner Tondee pointed out that 95 percent of the airport was built with federal funds.

"If we sell, we would have to pay those dollars back. It would cost us more to sell it," he said.

The commissioners affirmed they were not taking advantage of any of the 3 percent property tax increase they are allowed each year.