City approves $14 million budget

By ROBERT JAMES

Managing Editor

The Bonners Ferry City Council approved a budget of more than $14 million for the fiscal year beginning October 1.

The budget of $14,453,937 is $670,267 more than last year's budget, an increase of less than five percent.

The general fund budget stayed virtually the same. This year, the budget is $2,099,729 compared to last year's $2,098,777, a difference of less than $1,000.

Road oil represented the largest single increase, more than doubling from $50,000 to $103,000.

"We can either increase the budget or John Youngwirth, the street superintendent, is forced to cut maintenance in half," Kris Larsen, city clerk/treasurer said.

The city council approved a five-percent pay raise for city employees.

Another major increase occurred in the sewer fund, which saw its budget jump from $412,900 to $856,867.

That increase was necessary because the city will now service two additional water districts, Larson said. The water department is also purchasing a hydro-vac truck to assist with water main repair, she said.

The police department budget dropped nearly $34,000 because of the loss of grant funding, Larson said.

The city hopes to make up that amount with seizure funds through law enforcement.

The parks department had its funding jump from $23,815 last year to $37,915 this year and the golf course went from $110,574 to $115,416.

The city is also facing a 14-percent increase in its health insurance premiums, although that could change based upon the new quotes that come in.

"We hope it won't be that high," Mayor Darrell Kerby said.