Sandpoint OKs budget cuts

SANDPOINT — The City Council faced some painful decisions Wednesday night as they approved a round of cuts before passing the next year’s preliminary budget.

With anticipated revenues falling short of the city’s projected expenses for the coming year, city officials began searching for savings in recent budgeting sessions. To maintain a balanced budget, city officials said they will likely need to cut some staff positions.

“As expected, this has been our most difficult year for budgeting,” City Treasurer Shannon Syth said.

The big question at the City Council’s regular meeting was how to patch up the revenue shortfall of just over $400,000. Sandpoint Fire Department Captain Michael Gow requested that staffing cuts be the absolute last resort.

“Remember, these are husbands, wives, parents, coaches, neighbors and friends,” he said.

On the other hand, about a dozen individuals attended the meeting to express their support for the continuation of the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail project. The city bought the first of four parcels last autumn, and according to the purchase plan, it would acquire the second section this year.  

“This is an area where visionary leadership is very, very important,” said Jon Sayler, president of the Friends of the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail.

Indeed, the city’s approach to the trail remains an open question. According to council members, recreation impact fees, which can only be used for capital improvements like land purchases, combined with a possible grant might still cover the purchase. This is an approach that wouldn’t have an impact on staffing cuts. However, the preliminary budget leaves the council flexible at this point.

“This creates a place-holder so the budget can move forward,” Councilwoman Carrie Logan said. “It’s not a commitment to make the purchase, but it gives us the option to do so.”

 Otherwise, council members attempted to spread budget cuts fairly across the city’s departments. At the meeting, they levied salary and benefit cuts to the police department, eliminated the municipal enforcement fund and also lowered the snow removal and streets funds.

As for the fire department, Sandpoint Fire Chief Robert Tyler brought another possible money-savings measure to the council. Over the past year, the department responded to 213 medical emergency calls for Bonner County EMS, according to Tyler. Each run ran up a bill of $184 for the city within the first hour. Tyler said that some form of compensation for those services could save the city a lot of money. Alternatively, Tyler has offered to give up his position and restructure the department under the administration of the current fire captains.

After being presented with this new information, council members decided to explore in more detail within the coming weeks.

Sandpoint residents will have the chance to weigh in on the preliminary budget at the Aug. 15 council meeting.