Street repair on Post Falls wish list

Chances are good Post Falls residents will find travel in town a bit smoother beginning next year, said city Administrator Eric Keck.

Keck said street repairs are long overdue. And as one of the more affordable items among the city’s 2008 budget requests, he’ll recommend funding for the start of what will be a seven-year street maintenance program.

“If we don’t hop on that now, we’re going to spend millions later rebuilding those streets,” Keck said.

Funding for repaving is one of an additional $5 million in requests the city is eyeing for next year. But the fact is, it’ll take all of the roughly $14 million in the general revenue fund just to maintain the level of services now available in the fast-growing community, said Shelly Enderud, city finance director.

The complete city budget will be up for discussion and review in the coming weeks.

Post Falls City Council members will consider all budget requests at the council’s July 17 meeting. The public will have several opportunities in the days before and after that to weigh in.

This year, Post Falls is operating on a $12.5 million budget. “And we’re still behind in our levels of service for public safety and what we provide in our parks department,” Keck said.

Post Falls could really use more police officers and additional parks and recreation staff, he said.

“We have excellent park and police departments. But with all the growth we’ve had, it’s hard to keep up. And we’ve been running pretty lean in both those categories,” Keck said.

But shortages of funding and operating space mean most of the hiring will have to wait.

When construction of the spacious new city hall is finished next year, Keck hopes to be able to make some new hires.

Also on the wish list is a proposed $2.5 million vehicle maintenance and storage facility. The present shop is too small and outdated, Keck said.

He plans to recommend the City Council approve funding for the architectural and design work on the structure, with hopes construction could begin in 2009.

The shop would be situated on city-owned land near the wastewater treatment plant. It would enable the city to consolidate vehicle services and provide storage and maintenance space for snowplows, asphalt-spreaders, water trucks and other large rolling stock.

Meanwhile, Keck said the city is anticipating rising fuel and energy costs next year, which must also be paid out of the general fund.

The city will likely earmark $300,000 to cover its share of costs for a bicycle/pedestrian walkway children use near Post Falls Middle School.

“We have to do that next year to keep (matching) federal grant funds,” Keck said.

“Budgeting is just going to be a big challenge, and most of my colleagues in the area are going through the same challenges,” Keck said.