Whitefish council to review proposed city budget

The Whitefish City Council will discuss the proposed city budget for Fiscal Year 2021 at its meeting at 7:10 p.m. this evening at Whitefish City Hall.

A report on the proposed budget by City Manager Dana Smith states “with the economic impacts to our community from the COVID-19 pandemic, the proposed budget keeps property tax levies and assessments the same as the prior year with no budgeted increase.”

The budget will especially be affected by a decline in resort tax revenues, the report states, as the tax is “an area of the City’s finances that has been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the future is still uncertain.” The city proposes to budget for the Water Fund to cover a portion of debt service for the Haskill Basin Conservation Easement bond in FY 2021.

The report states the city has sufficient cash reserves – budgeted to increase from $1.55 million to $1.89 million – to maintain essential city services. The city is also proposing a 4% increase in the pay of city employees, plus adding or increasing staffing in a few different areas.

In addition, the council will review a resolution to adopt temporary on-street parking permits for contractors, moving companies and service vendors who need to park in excess of two hours to complete their jobs.

The proposed fees are $15 to rent a “stall” for a day, $55 for a week and $120 for a month.

The resolution also includes fees for water main taps “which reflect the full expense for labor, equipment and materials involved in the tapping of the main,” according to a memo from Craig Workman, Director of Public Works.