City Council passes budget

SANDPOINT — After numerous workshops, the Sandpoint City Council last Wednesday approved a streamlined budget for the 2008-2009 fiscal year.

The council appropriated $26,861,971 for total expenditures for the year, marking a nearly $4.5 million cut from last year's budget. The majority of the cuts — $3,497,471 — come from capital improvement funds, but the council also trimmed the city's operating budget by $995,893.

Among the entities receiving less money in the 2008-2009 budget are government buildings, the city attorney, urban forestry, narcotics task force, Memorial Field, street lights, and the Garbage and Public Works administrations.

The most drastic cut from the operating budget came from the controversial Local Improvement District, which, without a 2009 LID on the agenda, lost more than $3 million from the previous year's budget.

Funds from last year's failed LID were also added to the 2008-2009 budget, which the council had the option of leaving alone or allocating to various departments.

Originally earmarked to reimburse property owners who put sidewalks in before the LID was voted down, the council had $111,500 to spend.

 Council members proposed using the funds for areas ranging from employee health care, downtown revitalization, a roundabout on Division and Pine, a new police car, a proposed Sand Creek boardwalk, an ongoing geographic information system and a tractor/lawnmower for the Parks and Recreation department.

After debating the plans, the council decided to allocate $47,978 to employee health care benefits, $25,000 for the GIS/Public Works, $20,000 for a new police car and $3,000 to stripe bike lanes throughout the city.

Council members John Reuter, Carrie Logan, Stephen Snedden, and Doug Hawkins Jr. voted to approve the expenditures, while Councilman Michael Boge voted against them. Councilwoman Helen Newton was absent from the meeting.

Another $15,000 was allocated to the Parks and Recreation Department for a new tractor/lawnmower, with Boge and Reuter dissenting.

Boge, who argued against spending the $111,500, said he could not vote in favor of any of the amendments because he does not believe they are fiscally responsible.

Although the budget ordinance passed unanimously, it will did become law until the following Wednesday, when it was read for the second and third time. A rule requiring three readings of every ordinance needed four affirmative votes to be suspended, but only Hawkins, Snedden and Reuter voted in favor.