East Hope OKs budget

SANDPOINT — The nation’s ongoing recession is forcing local cities to plan for the worst during this year’s budget season, and most are playing it safe by making across-the-board cuts.

The East Hope City Council unanimously passed a $252,184 budget last week, slashing nearly $90,000 from its previous budget. As part of the overhaul, the council trimmed its general fund by more than $15,000 and cut its planning and zoning allowance by $6,500.

Councilwoman Trecy Carpenter said trimming the budget shows residents that the city is feeling the economic crunch, just like they are.

“Times are hard for people,” she said. “We’ve had some foreclosures in the city and everybody’s having hard times. The city’s having hard times, but it seems like what’s happening throughout government is that they go and raise taxes, which makes times even harder for everybody else.”

The Clark Fork council also made significant cuts to its budget last week, chopping $206,561 from its 2009 document. The largest cuts came from water and street funds, each of which lost $100,000 from the previous year.

Councilman Brian Cantrell said he is pleased with the budget and said despite the cuts, residents can expect the same services they are used to.

The Hope council will hold a public hearing on its proposed 2010 budget next week. The council is lookving to slash more than $600,000 from last year’s budget, although $550,000 of that comes from a 2009 revenue bond that is not included in this year’s draft. The proposed $117,120 budget would cut from the general, administrative and street funds, among other areas.

The Hope council will meet next Wednesday at city hall at 5:30 p.m. for a public hearing on the budget.