Weigh in on city budgets

Residents of cities around Kootenai County have the opportunity to comment on their municipal budgets before the budgets are due to the county the first week in September.

Most of the cities have their final public budget hearings scheduled by the third week of August to allow city representatives to hear public opinion before the Sept. 4 deadline called "The Certification of Budgets in Dollars."

Rathdrum City Clerk and Treasurer Melissa Taylor said she hopes for a sizable turnout.

"We encourage our residents and citizens to come and see what's going on with their city, and we welcome civic engagement," Taylor said.

Taylor also said any member of the public can request, prior to the meeting, an email or hard copy of the budget.

Attendees can sign up at the public hearings to give comment.

Public hearing schedule:

* Athol: 7 p.m., Aug. 5, Athol City Hall, 30355 Third St.

* Coeur d'Alene: 6 p.m., Sept. 2, Community Room - Coeur d'Alene Public Library, 702 Front St.

* Dalton Gardens: 5 p.m., Aug. 7, Dalton Gardens City Hall, 6360 N. Fourth St.

* Fernan: 6:30 p.m., Aug. 4, Fernan Ranger Station, 2502 E. Sherman Ave.

* Harrison: 7 p.m., Aug. 5, Harrison City Hall, 100 E. Frederick Ave.

* Hauser: 6:30 p.m., Aug. 13, Hauser City Hall, 11837 N. Hauser Lake Road

* Hayden: 5:30 p.m., Aug. 12, Hayden City Hall, 8930 N. Government Way

* Hayden Lake: 5 p.m., Aug. 19, Hayden Lake City Hall, 9393 Strahorn Road

* Huetter: 6 p.m., Aug. 13, Sage Technical High School, 3448 N. Huetter Road

* Post Falls: 6 p.m., Aug. 19, Post Falls City Hall, 408 N. Spokane St.

* Rathdrum: 6 p.m., Aug. 19, Rathdrum City Hall, 8047 W. Main St.

* Spirit Lake: 6:30 p.m., Aug. 12, Spirit Lake City Hall, 6042 W. Maine St.

* Worley: 6 p.m., Aug. 13, Worley City Hall, 9936 W. E St.

The county must forward the municipal budget information it collects to the State Tax Commission by Sept. 22.