Council looks at budget on July 21

In a brief 20-minute meeting Monday night, the Kalispell City Council set a public hearing on the city budget for the coming fiscal year for July 21.

City staff and the council have developed a preliminary budget plan totaling roughly $46 million for 2015 during recent work sessions. That’s comparable to the 2014 budget of $46.8 million.

Mayor Mark Johnson stressed that the budget has been given sharp scrutiny and the council welcomes public input. After the city property tax valuation information in early August, the city will be able to make adjustments in the spending plan to account for revenues that exceed or do not meet expectations.

The council is scheduled to adopt a final budget and set tax levies for the coming fiscal year on Aug. 18.

Also at Monday’s meeting, the council approved an amendment to a city code that will simplify permitting for special events and the vendors who participate in them. The change also reduced fees that vendors are charged.

The request for the amendment came from the Kalispell Downtown Association, which runs the ThursdayFest events that will be held this year on the lawn and block in front of the Central School Museum.

This summer’s first event will be June 26.