C. Falls to lower property taxes slightly

Columbia Falls City Council is wrapping up a $6.22 million city budget for fiscal year 2012-13.

Council members on Monday passed resolutions to authorize the city’s special maintenance assessments and levies.

In another two weeks they will vote to set appropriations for the fiscal year, which started on July 1.

A 5 percent increase in Columbia Falls’ overall taxable value means the total city tax levy will drop by a quarter of a mill to 193.484 mills.

That taxable value increase was driven by development of the Beehive and Timber Creek Village assisted living units and construction of a new health clinic by Kalispell Regional Medical Center, City Manager Susan Nicosia said.

“Those added about $5 million in taxable market value, and that’s why we were able to reduce our mills,” Nicosia said.

“For someone with a house with $200,000 of taxable value, taxes would be about $682.”

The city’s special assessments for things such as street and light maintenance remain set at the same rates as last year.

Water and sewer rates also are the same.

“We’re stable and holding our own,” Nicosia said of the city’s financial position.

Total city budget appropriations will be less than last year, she added.

Last year’s bottom line totals were bumped up by a $270,000 police department remodel, a $220,000 grant to buy a new street sweeper and the $325,000 purchase of a sewer cleaner truck.

“We’re small enough that if there’s one big project or grant, you see it,” Nicosia said.

General fund appropriations for 2012-13 are set to be approved at $2.575 million.

The city is projected to end the year with a 27 percent general fund carryover balance. It ended this last fiscal year with a 28 percent carryover balance.

Reporter Tom Lotshaw may be reached at 758-4483 or by email at tlotshaw@dailyinterlake.com.