No tax increase with KCFR budget

POST FALLS - The fiscal 2010-11 budget for Kootenai County Fire and Rescue, which covers Post Falls, Stateline, Dalton Gardens, Fernan Village and Wolf Lodge, does not include a property tax increase.

The General Fund budget will be $6.6 million, up from the current $6.3 million budget.

"The increase is not from additional taxes, but from other revenue sources such as new construction and annexations," KCFR Chief Ron Sampert said.

Sampert said commissioners elected to not increase taxes because of the recession. Agencies can increase them up to 3 percent each year under law.

Meanwhile, the KCFR firefighter union's four-year contract does not include a cost of living increase for the next year. The contract calls for a 1 percent COLA hike next year, 1 percent increase the following year and a 2 percent jump the fourth year.