Cd'A City Council approves budget amendment

COEUR d'ALENE — The Coeur d'Alene City Council approved Tuesday a $2.7 million amendment to the city's budget for the current fiscal year.

Each fiscal year city officials are able, in accordance with Idaho statute, to amend the city's budget to account for unanticipated revenues and expenditures. During Tuesday's regular meeting of the council, City Finance Director Troy Tymesen explained that, although the $2.7 million is "above and beyond" what was established in September 2015, all of the listed changes in revenue and expenditures were approved by council members during the year.

"I will say it has been a solid year," Tymesen said of the city's finances during the 2015-16 fiscal year. "Our income projections were quite close, and the department heads have done a very good job of sticking with their budgets."

One of the largest contributors to the amended budget is $745,000 worth of equipment and facility purchases for the city's fire and police departments, which Tymesen said were all paid for through a voter-approved general obligation bond.

More than $500,000 of the total amendment, according to Tymesen, comes from additional revenue received over the course of the year through methods such as individual departments receiving grants. Grant funding, Tymesen added, is never anticipated during the initial budgeting process, and only added to the budget after they have been successfully obtained.

The amendment to the budget was approved by a 5-0 vote, with Councilman Woody McEvers being absent from Tuesday night's meeting.

A public hearing on the amended 2015-16 fiscal year budget was also approved for Sept. 20. A public hearing on the city's budget for the upcoming fiscal year will be held during the Sept. 6 meeting of the Coeur d'Alene City Council.

Members of the public are able to provide input to the members of the council during both public hearings.