Sandpoint’S Budget Reviewed By Council

The city of Sandpoint’s budget continues to grow, but not on the backs of taxpayers, according to city officials.

The City Council will consider adopting a preliminary operating budget of about $6.6 million at today’s council meeting.

The council is expected to set a budget hearing for Sept. 1. The budget, which represents about a $350,000 increase over last year’s budget, includes an additional police officer, salary increases and a full-time animal control officer.

The city has had a part-time animal control officer, but it plans to employ a full-time officer in the new fiscal year.

The property tax portion of the city’s revenues would increase by $18,000, and the levy rate would not increase.

The rest of the increased revenue would come primarily from revenue-generating departments such as public works.

The budget also includes another $10.5 million for a number of proposed capital projects, but each of those projects must be approved by the council individually before they can move forward. Much of the revenue for those projects would come from the local government investment pool, a state-run investment fund.

Only about one quarter of last year’s $4.3 million capital budget was actually spent, according to Sandy Lamson, the city’s finance director.

After the budget is set, the council can adjust it to decrease the expenses, but they cannot be increased.

In other business, the council will consider bids for the Sand Creek Moorage project, which is a proposed boat dock from Bridge Street to the Powerhouse on Sand Creek. The dock is unlikely to be constructed this year, however, according to Mayor David Sawyer.

MEETING The council meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. today, City Council Chambers, 1123 Lake Street.