Whitefish OKs new budget

Northwest Montana News Network

The Whitefish City Council unanimously approved a final budget for fiscal year 2010 at its Monday meeting.

Total appropriations increased by $16.3 million to $45.4 million, but the number of property-tax mills levied will decrease from 112.216 to 100.28. That figure does not take into account the property tax rebate from the city's resort taxes.

The total appropriations include a large capital project, the $7.7 million Emergency Services Center, as well as $4.1 million for refinancing two older tax increment bonds at a lower interest rate.

It also includes $5.6 million for the tax increment district, which doubled in value since last year as a result of growth and development, and $3 million donated by Michael Goguen to the A Trail Runs Through It project.

The budget provides $645,963 in cash reserves for the general fund, which is more than 17 percent. General fund appropriations, which primarily come from property taxes, increased by 0.051 percent.