No tax hike in proposed Post Falls budget

By BRIAN WALKER

Staff Writer

POST FALLS — Post Falls' proposed city budget for fiscal 2018 includes no property tax increase, a 1 percent cost of living allowance and up to a 3 percent merit pay hike for employees, but no salary bumps for the mayor and City Council.

"It's a pretty lean budget," said Jason Faulkner, finance director.

The public hearing on the proposed budget is Aug. 15 at 6 p.m. The council earlier held two workshops to shape the plan.

Each year cities are allowed to take up to a 3 percent property tax increase, but Faulkner said revenue from new growth and limited spending prevented that need.

If all employees receive the full 3 percent merit pay increase, the amount would be $430,000. About 90 percent of the employees have typically received the full pay increase, according to the city.

The mayor and City Council chose to not give themselves a pay increase from $1,788 per month for the mayor and $816 per month for council members. They also receive medical, dental and retirement benefits.

Three new full-time positions — two police officers at a total cost of $146,159 and a city arborist at $51,016 — are proposed in the budget.

Growth has prompted the need for the positions, Faulkner said. The population of Post Falls increased more than 1,500 residents last year and there are 13 subdivisions being developed this year.

Faulkner said the city's goal is to have 1.8 police officers per 1,000 residents, but the ratio is 1.3. The national average is two.

"As the city continues to grow, it is important to ensure the safety of the public and the officers," Faulkner said.

Faulkner said Chief Scot Haug only requested one officer, but two were included in the proposed budget based on a recommendation from himself and City Administrator Shelly Enderud when considering growth trends and more building expected.

The city issued 673 residential building permits in 2016 and is predicting 864 for this year.

With streets, $124,000 is budgeted to reconstruct Spokane Street in the area of Evergreen Cemetery from Poleline to Grange.

Parks-related requests include $65,000 for upgrades outlined in the master plan, including paving the parking lot of Hilde Kellogg Park and trail overlays; $25,000 to continue surveying to determine encroachments; $19,056 for a seasonal parks worker; and $12,000 each for surface improvements at Syringa Park and a new playground at Falls Park.

"Our focus is trying to meet public demand and keep the level of service up," said Dave Fair, parks and recreation director.