City Council votes to use total mills

By HEIDI DESCH

Hungry Horse News

The Columbia Falls City Council on Tuesday decided that spending most of its available funds would be the best move.

The Council continues to look at the city's fiscal year 2007-08 budget. It will vote on the final budget at its meeting on Sept. 17 after taking public comment.

The vote was 5-2. Councilmen Don Barnhart and Charlie McCubbins voted against.

Under preliminary numbers, the city would not be levying the total amount available to it. However, the council voted to use all the mills available.

City Manager Bill Shaw recommended the council levy the maximum amount.

"It could mean $8,000 more for the city and only pennies on the tax bill," he said. "That $8,000 could mean a lot to you."

Shaw said that the extra money could help fund the city's promise to revamp the city tennis courts, without making cuts in other areas.

The City has applied for several grants and is expecting donations for the project, but if none of those come to fruition then the City will have to shoulder the entire bill.

Shaw also noted that the extra money could mean saving other projects that have already been delayed.

For several years, the City has scheduled rewiring of City Hall, but as other projects arose that has been put on the back burner.

Current estimates are that prior to the Council's vote, homeowners would only see an $11 increase in taxes on a $150,000 home. That includes a raise in the street levy which was expected to be much higher.

City Finance Director Susan Nicosia estimated using the total mills would only add another 89 cents to that $11.

Councilman Doug Karper said he supported having greater assurance on the funding for the tennis courts.

"I would support levying the full mills," he said. "They are not excess mills."

The Council is still also considering increasing water rates to cover costs. It will also take up the issue at its Sept. 17 meeting at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

In other news, the City Council:

? Approved final plat for Burke 2 subdivision along Columbia Falls Stage.

? Heard Deputy City Attorney Cliff Hayden's request to increase pay based on increased costs resulting from legislative changes. The Council directed Shaw to further look into the issue for a solution and the possibility of separating the civil and criminal contracts with the city. Currently, Eric Kaplan has the contract for city attorney, but subcontracts the criminal part to Hayden.

? Approved an increase in exempt employee wages for fiscal year 2007-08. The increase is for about 5 percent for each position. The city judge, finance director, fire chief, police chief and public works director are the positions that will receive an increase. All wages for the positions are based on the wage of non-exempt employees and are compared with other cities.

? Approved changes to the zoning regulations regarding commercial development under 10,000 square feet. The regulations set guides for landscaping and building designs. The regulation also applies to residential buildings with five or more units.

? Gave notice of several public hearings for Sept. 17. First, on a re-zone request for property at 40 11th Street E. and Highway 2 East from neighborhood/professional business to general business. Second, for a conditional use permit request for the Boys and Girls Club of Glacier Country to use a building at 35 Fourth Ave. W. as a school. Third, for a zoning regulations text amendment to the zoning code regarding lands unsuitable for building sites concerning slopes of 25 percent or greater, high water table and hazardous conditions.