City budget looks to add police officer, street equipment

The Columbia Falls city budget for the next fiscal year has a host of wish-list items that the city council will look to whittle down at its next meeting.

City manager Susan Nicosia said the total budget, including water and sewer funds, is about $8.1 million. The general fund budget, which includes parks, police, public works and other city functions, is projected to be about $3.46 million, or about $170,000 more than last year.

Nicosia suggested to council that it carry over about 4 mills it didn’t levy last year. The impact on a home with an assessed value of $200,000 would be about $10.

The additional revenue, she suggested, could go toward street maintenance equipment — about $50,000 for a dump truck to replace one that has a tough time starting in the winter months — and other equipment. For example, the city needs a piece of equipment that can plow sidewalks and bike paths.

Another big ticket item under consideration is a new fire truck. Fire chief Rick Hagen said the department would like to a buy a quint fire truck, named thusly because it has five functions: pumps, water tank, fire hose, aerial device, and ground ladders.

The department is eying two different trucks right now, both of which are used. One is in Colorado and one is in Texas. The Colorado truck is just $45,000, while the Texas truck is significantly more, about $195,000.

The problem with the Colorado truck, Hagen noted, is another fire department has first dibs on it.

The quint would have a ladder that allows fire fighters to battle blazes in taller buildings, like the condos being built on Nucleus Avenue.

Other possible projects include resurfacing the tennis courts at $75,000, and a flush toilet facility at River’s Edge Park for about $50,000.

One idea is to move the tennis courts across the street from the high school in what is now a youth baseball field, Nicosia said.

On the personnel front, the city has plans to add another police officer to the roster and a hopes to add a fire marshal position as well.

A public hearing on the budget was continued until the council’s next meeting at 7 p.m. Aug. 20.