Flathead County budget vote planned Tuesday

The Flathead County commissioners today will consider adopting a preliminary budget for the next fiscal year that is just 1 percent bigger than last year’s budget.

The commissioners will take public comments at 8:15 a.m. and vote on the proposed budget at 9:30 a.m.

In a separate action, the commissioners will consider adopting a $52 million capital improvement expenditure plan that runs through the year 2020.

Total budget expenditures for the fiscal year that starts July 1 are about $102.4 million, up from $101.3 million last year.

Earlier this year the commissioners set a 1.6 percent increase as the target for the upcoming budget, based on the cost-of-living increase of 1.6 percent the prior year, County Administrator Mike Pence said in a budget memorandum.

They asked county department managers to pencil out their spending needs based on that 1.6 percent target, and department heads obliged the request.

“The budget presented to the commissioners was balanced with adequate cash reserves within the guideline target set in January of 1.6 percent,” Pence said. “If we take out capital improvement plan funding and fund transfers, which is our true ongoing operational cost, our expenditure estimate for all county funds for fiscal year 2016 is $65,565,369 compared to $63,897,416 in fiscal year 2015, or a 1.65 percent increase.

“So either way it is a pleasure to report that our management team was able to meet the direction provided by the commissioners,” Pence said.

The capital improvement plan provides the county a road map of how to allocate money for capital projects in the areas of general government, public safety, public works, public health, social and economic services, culture and recreation and enterprise projects.

Over the five-year plan, the largest percentage of capital spending falls within public safety, with $14.1 million earmarked for Justice Center renovation in fiscal year 2019.

Three big capital projects in the plan already are underway, including $3 million going to the renovation of the old jail building, $1.9 million for the Bigfork stormwater project and $5 million for the South Campus Building.

Preliminary approval of the expenditure budget gives the county authority to spend money when the new fiscal year starts July 1.

Flathead County won’t be able to fully address its revenue projects and tax levies until it receives the taxable valuations from the Montana Department of Revenue by the first Monday in August.

“While we have estimated non-tax revenues with adjustments in the current budget estimate, we left the mill levies the same as last year while awaiting word from the state,” Pence said in the memo. “Even with the levies currently frozen, our cash balances are adequate as estimated with a conservative approach.

“When we get the valuations and set the mill levy recommendations, it is likely our cash balances will be a bit higher with the final budget estimates we present to the public in late August for commissioner consideration and final approval,” Pence said.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.