Kalispell City Council takes first look at preliminary budget

Kalispell City Council discussed the municipality’s preliminary budget for fiscal year 2024 on Monday in the first of a series of work sessions on the proposed financial roadmap.

The total budget proposed by City Manager Doug Russell comes in at just under $139 million. Its general fund, which is responsible for bankrolling most administrative and public safety operations, is proposed to be $15.5 million, up from $14.1 million last year.

The increases are largely due to previously ratified wage adjustments and the cost of health insurance benefits.

About half of the general fund is expected to come from property tax revenue, which Russell estimated could rise by between 2.5% and 5%. The final numbers won’t be known until the budget is finalized and mill values are set by the state in August.

Council voted to increase planning and zoning fees last month, which is expected to help cover that department’s administrative expenses. The city also will receive revenue from new sources this year, including a portion of countywide recreational cannabis taxes and money from pharmaceutical companies as part of a nationwide opioid settlement.

The opioid settlement money could be used to extend the co-responder crisis response program, which has been praised by local law enforcement officials as a useful tool in dealing with mental health crises.

Russell recommended that the mayor and council vote to increase their salaries, which led to the meeting’s most spirited debates.

Councilor Kari Gabriel, who has served since 2004, said that she has not seen her salary increase in her time on the Council. Russell confirmed that their pay has not gone up from the roughly $5,000 that was allotted for each councilor since 1997.

Councilor Chad Graham said that he saw public service as an act of sacrifice, and was uncomfortable with voting to increase his own compensation.

Councilor Jed Fisher said he agreed with Russell’s recommendation to raise the pay rate, and said he hoped a salary bump would lessen the financial burden of running for local office. He also said that the work that goes into the job was deserving of more.

“We should be proud of the mayor and this council,” Fisher said.

Councilor Sid Daoud said he might support an increase, but would want to set an effective date after the expiration of each councilor’s current term, so as to avoid the appearance of impropriety.

The annual budget as proposed allotts around $60,000 total to the mayor and council’s pay, plus health insurance benefits.

The council will have a regularly scheduled meeting next Monday, after which they will continue budget talks.

Reporter Adrian Knowler can be reached at 758-4407 or aknowler@dailyinterlake.com.