Where will all the flowers go?

Kalispell City Hall's blooms are among proposed budget cuts

The Daily Inter Lake

Flowers at City Hall, four summer park concerts and the warming hut at Woodland Park's ice-rink lagoon are among the many items on the chopping block as the Kalispell City Council votes tonight on a proposal to trim more than $99,000 from the city general fund.

Each department has trimmed its budget in an effort to spare city employees from being laid off. At the past three council meetings, dispatchers, police officers and firefighters turned out in significant numbers to plead against reducing their forces, arguing that public safety would be greatly affected by the cuts.

Kalispell's general fund is hurting because expected revenues haven't materialized amid an economic recession. The city also had to budget $100,000 to pay ousted City Manager Jim Patrick his severance package and cover recruiting costs to find a new manager.

Department heads whittled down spending to reach the $99,000 reduction in the general fund. Travel and training expense funds took a hit in nearly all departments, along with office supplies and equipment, overtime pay, printing and janitorial supplies.

The Police Department proposes a $15,000 cut, with the biggest reductions in training and software maintenance and licensing. The Fire Department will trim $35,000, making the deepest cuts in computer supplies, school and travel, and contract services for Station No. 62 near Costco.

The Parks and Recreation Department will take the biggest hit, proposing a reduction of roughly $63,000 - about two-thirds of the total amount the city needs to cut.

Restrooms at Depot Park would be closed to reduce security costs and Westview Park don't be developed, parks officials propose.

All flowers, landscaping and gardens at City Hall and the Kalispell Youth Athletic Complex (Kidsports) will be eliminated - saving $1,500. Four Picnic in the Park concerts will be axed, saving the city $8,600. By closing the warming hut at Woodland Park, the city can save $2,500 in natural gas costs.

The mayor and council aren't immune to cuts. They propose trimming their school and travel budget by $1,000 and will reduce expenses for meetings by $600, along with other cuts in books, dues and office equipment.

As requested by the council, there are no reductions of staffing levels, salaries or hours in the proposed budget amendment, Interim City Manager Myrt Webb wrote in his report to the council.

IN OTHER business, the council will consider a resolution that would allow the city to establish the value of relocating or removing the KGEZ radio towers and make a formal offer to the owner of the towers if the council determines it's prudent and timely to pay the costs.

If the owner rejects the offer, the resolution gives the council the option of considering condemnation.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Kalispell council chambers, 201 First Ave. East.