CdA budget allows for new cops, firefighters

For the first time in years, Coeur d’Alene has the cash to hire three new police officers and three new firefighters in its proposed city budget.

It’s still not as many new hires as the two public safety departments had hoped for, but it’s a start. Last year the city didn’t have the money to hire any new staff.

“We are still constrained by the real dollars that are available,” Councilman Ben Wolfinger said. “One of the biggest challenges for any city is keeping up with growth.”

The city’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2005-2006, which starts in October, totals $66.6 million. That’s a $15.6 million increase over this year’s budget, most of which is because of large projects such as street repairs, water tanks and a $9 million sewer plant expansion.The budget also creates a new position for an assistant city engineer, a wastewater inspector, a technology technician and several part-time parks department workers.

The City Council is having a public hearing on the proposed budget Sept. 6.

Even in a year in which property tax reform is a hot topic with locals demanding changes to Idaho’s tax system, Wolfinger questions whether anyone will attend the hearing.

“I have never had somebody actually come to the budget hearing and testify,” Wolfinger said. “It’s more than $60 million, and nobody comes to talk about it. I’m always surprised.”

Coeur d’Alene residents will see some increase in their tax bills because voters in February passed two bonds for a new downtown library and to provide money for firefighters and a training center for local law enforcement. Combined, the $3 million library bond and the $7 million public safety bond will increase the taxes on a $150,000 home by $70.68 annually.

But it’s unclear how much the city’s proposed budget increase for next year might affect property tax bills.

Even with the anticipated growth in the city budget for next year, homeowners might not see an increase in their tax bills because there has been so much new development in the city. The city added $139 million in new development to its tax rolls in the past year, spreading out the tax burden.

City Finance Director Troy Tymesen said property owners will see an increase in their property taxes if the assessed value of their home or land increased significantly.

“It boils down to your valuation,” Tymesen said, adding that the average increase in property values in Kootenai County, including Coeur d’Alene, was about 27 percent.

Tymesen isn’t yet able to determine the tax bill for the owner of a $150,000 home because the county hasn’t calculated the new levy rate.

Kootenai County Finance Director David McDowell said Thursday that he is still waiting for the final number on how much property tax relief property owners will get this year.

“This volatile market makes it hard to guess,” McDowell said.

The police department is getting the only new program in the city budget, the motorcycle patrol. The city is spending $25,000 to equip two Harley-Davidson motorcycles that will assist the traffic units in Coeur d’Alene. The two motorcycle patrol officers are already on the street.

The proposed budget includes several major capital expenditures including $9 million for the wastewater treatment plant expansion, $1.5 million for a new water reservoir on Tubbs Hill and $1.7 million for street projects, including the widening of Ramsey Road between Hanley Avenue and Prairie Avenue.

Workers started in May on the first phase of the wastewater treatment plant expansion that will be complete in fall 2006.