Kalispell approves increased budget

A $104 million annual operating budget was only one of many big-ticket issues the Kalispell City Council decided on Monday.

The council unanimously approved the budget for the 2021-22 fiscal year, in addition to holding a public hearing on a new transportation plan, reviewing development proposals and forming a subcommittee to review the city's agreement with the Evergreen Water and Sewer District.

The final budget amount came out to just over $104 million after the city received final property tax valuations from the state. The total was $365,792 more than the preliminary budget of $103,960,616, proposed in May.

Last year the city operated with an $82.5 million budget.

The council also voted to levy 14 mills, up from the 12 mills proposed in the preliminary budget.

The total amount of money levied is actually decreasing from the last fiscal year, from about $8 million to about $7.6 million.

The other major change in the budget affected the funding sources for some staffing increases as a result of the final property tax valuations.

A total of $212,522 in city funds will go toward hiring two new firefighters with the Kalispell Fire Department. In the preliminary budget, it was first suggested the city apply for a federal Staffing For Adequate Fire And Emergency Response (SAFER) grant to cover the addition of two fire personnel.

If the city is unsuccessful in securing a federal Community Oriented Policing (COPS) grant, $180,000 in city funds will also be used to fund two police positions with the Kalispell Police Department.

The final change in the budget, unrelated to staffing, concerned a $750,000 increase to the Westside Tax Increment Financing District for construction of the Parkline Trail. The increase corresponds to "higher-than-anticipated" valuations for the TIF.

As the council approved the budget on Monday, City Manager Doug Russell said, "we are very comfortable with where we're at in terms of appropriations."

THE MEETING also provided a platform for the public to voice opinions on a plan designed to overhaul the city's transportation infrastructure.

Known as Move 2040, the plan details 90 possible traffic changes such as lane expansions and roundabout installations.

Four public commenters gave their input on the plan, including two representatives from the nonprofit Citizens for a Better Flathead. All four insisted on the need to make sure the city is friendly to pedestrians and cyclists in the future.

"I want you to be more sensitive to the particulars of this plan in going after what is important for those of us who live here, and that is multiple areas to walk and to ride bikes, and to make this area that's growing far too rapidly for some of us into an area that is enjoyable by many of us," said Susan Cahill during the public hearing.

The council will vote on the transportation plan at its Sept. 7 meeting

THE COUNCIL approved two final plat requests from developers.

Sands Surveying Inc. won approval for West View Estates Phase 5, a 22-lot residential subdivision on 6.2 acres south of the intersection of Stillwater Road and Taelor Road.

The second approval was a final plat request for Lot 1 of the Village Heights Professional Center, a two-lot commercial subdivision located at 105 Village Loop. WGM Group applied for final plat approval of the 1.43-acre property on behalf of PTA Development LLC.

Toward the end of the meeting, Mayor Mark Johnson proposed forming a council subcommittee to review the agreement between the city of Kalispell and the Evergreen Water and Sewer District. Council members Ryan Hunter, Sid Daoud, Chad Graham and Kari Gabriel volunteered to serve on the subcommittee.

Finally, Hunter proposed adding a requirement to hold work sessions ahead of voting to approve planned-unit developments, but there wasn't enough support from the council to move the idea forward.

Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at 406-758-4459 or bserbin@dailyinterlake.com.