Coeur d'Alene council to consider $139M proposed budget

The Coeur d'Alene City Council is expected to consider a $139 million budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year today.

The revenue includes new growth and annexations from property taxes in the amount of $188,043 and a 3% increase to the property taxes received by the city in the fiscal year 2023-24 in the amount of $797,851, a city report said.

The increase of $985,894 will be spread across the city's entire valuation, which is currently estimated at $11.4 billion. 

"The budget also reflects capturing 1% of forgone taxes in the total of $275,809 to be allocated to afford prior-year contractual wage agreements with public safety staff," the report said.

According to the report, most homeowners will see a "very small decrease in taxes paid to the city and commercial properties will see an increase due to the large increases in taxable valuations for commercial properties and the slight decrease in residential property valuations."

"At this time there are funds committed by legislation to lower property taxes, however, it is unknown how this will affect city taxpayers at this time," the report said. "The tax cuts will sustain some of the tax relief taxpayers experienced in prior year."

The council is also scheduled to consider a proposed agreement negotiated with Coeur d'Alene Firefighters Local No. 710. 

The contract would run four years, beginning Oct. 1 and ending Sept. 30, 2028. It includes a 3.5% wage adjustment at the beginning of each fiscal year of the four-year contract; amends the grievance procedure to allow for one single arbitrator instead of a panel of three; and adds parental leave following the first month of a birth or adoption, which will allow the member to use four-days of sick leave.

The city's proposed 2024-25 budget calls for $14.5 million for the fire department, an increase of about $700,000 from the $13.8 million in the current budget.

Councilman Woody McEvers will also be sworn in as mayor, as he steps in the complete the final 16 months of Jim Hammond's term. Hammond resigned so he and his wife could move to Colorado to be closer to family, including two young grandchildren.

The City Council is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. today in the Coeur d'Alene Public Library Community Room.