Page 14 - Flathead Beacon // 8.31.16

NEWS
Commission Approves $92 Million County Budget
Budget comes in $13 million less than previous year, due largely to fewer major capital improvement projects
BY MOLLY PRIDDY OF THE BEACON
On Aug. 25, the Flathead County Com- mission unanimously approved a $92 million budget for the next scal year, an overall decrease of more than $13 million from the previous budget of $105.2 mil- lion passed in 2015.
According to county administra- tor Mike Pence, Flathead County has a beginning balance of $67.9 million and plans on bringing in $89.8 million in rev- enue for scal year 2016-2017. Expendi- tures are expected to hit $92 million, with a projected ending balance of $66.9 million.
The county’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) expects to spend more than $10.4 million on projects this scal year; while it is a signi cant portion of the expenditures, Commissioner Pam Holm- quist noted that it is more than $8 million less than the previous year’s budget.
The decrease is due to the county n- ishing two major CIP projects: the new South Campus building, which now houses the county’s Agency on Aging pro- gram along with other departments, and the renovation of the historic jail.
“Those were two huge projects,” Holmquist said.
There are large increases within parts of the county’s budget. Personnel costs still account for a major portion of the county’s budget, with a 2 percent
FLATHEAD
Big Brothers Big Sisters Recruiting Volunteer Mentors
Big Brothers Big Sisters is kicking o a campaign to recruit 50 volunteer men- tors to be matched with youth in Flathead County.
Mentors are especially needed for Lunch Pail Pals, a school-based mento- ring program in Flathead County. The time commitment is one hour per week over the course of the school year. Men- tors meet one hour per week with their “Little” at school for lunch and recess. Some days volunteers may sit down and read a book and others may include throwing the football or playing another game outside. Mentors will be matched with elementary and middle school stu- dents in Flathead County.
“Big Brothers Big Sisters is able to grow this program because of generous community support,” Executive Direc- tor Jesse Mahugh said. “We now have two program sta , which signi cantly
Flathead County Courthouse. BEACON FILE PHOTO
cost-of-living adjustment approved for a total of $597,530. Flathead County has 538 full-time employees this year, compared to 524 the previous year. Most of those 13 new positions are in law enforcement and the justice system, the commission explained, due to an increase in need, as evidenced by the county’s overcrowded jail.
Four new full-time positions were
increases the number of children we can serve.”
Nancy Easley is the School-Based Coordinator and Lisa Johnson is the Community-Based Coordinator.
“As superintendent of Kalispell Pub- lic Schools, I cannot think of a better way to impact our most needy kids in a positive way than volunteering to be a Big Brother or Big Sister,” School District 5 Superintendent Mark Flatau said. “Our kids need as many positive relationships with meaningful adults as possible. Big Brothers and Big Sisters lls this roll in outstanding ways.”
Volunteers are also needed for the Community Based mentoring program, which is a time commitment of eight hours per month doing activities in the community with your Little, such as hik- ing or getting ice cream together.
Big Brothers Big Sisters supports youth in graduating from high school, avoiding risky behaviors, building better relationships, and improving self-con - dence by matching them with a volunteer
added in the sheri ’s o ce – two deputy positions and two detention center o - cers – and two more in the county attor- ney’s o ce for a total of $427,000.
Commissioner Gary Krueger said he thought the county has been for- ward-thinking thus far in regard to sav- ing money for a new jail, with nearly $5 million already in the bank after three
mentor. Mentors are screened and sup- ported with training by quali ed sta . Prior to being matched, volunteers are interviewed, a multi-level background check is performed and references are checked by sta . For more information about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flat- head County visit the agency’s Web site at www.bbbsfc.org.
Call (406) 752-0092 to sign up or visit www.bbbsfc.org for more information.
FLATHEAD
Board of Adjustment Looks at Hodgson Road Casino
The Flathead County Board of Adjust- ment will meet on Tuesday, Sept. 6 to dis- cuss a possible casino project planned for Hodgson Road.
Den Gar Properties LLC, owned by Gary Ohs, is asking the board for a con- ditional use permit that would allow the company to build a 4,500-square-foot casino located at 1985 Hodgson Rd., south of White sh.
years. But until the jail is built, the county will have to deal with the increased need for jail space the best it can.
“Our response was we needed six new employees, and it’s going to cost taxpay- ers half-a-million dollars,” Krueger said.
The CIP budget also includes the county’s decision to renovate the vacated county attorney space in the Justice Cen- ter Building and turn it into a 36-bed detention facility as a stop-gap to help with the overburdened jail.
Flathead County’s total taxable value increased from $222.3 million to $224.9 million. The budget proposed a tax levy of 174.99 mills, an increase over last year’s 171.34 mills, jumping roughly 2 percent. Property taxes will increase by 3.2 per- cent, from $35,336,663 in FY 2016 to $36,494,669 in 2017.
This means a taxpayer with a $200,000 market-value property would see a tax increase of approximately $9.86 for the year. Pence noted that new con- struction provides signi cant new tax dollars, and will a ect the actual county tax increases for individual taxpayers.
The commission said it’s proud of the overall budget, even if the commission- ers felt uncomfortable at large increases, such as those within county employment, at times.
“We’re moving the county forward in a positive way,” Holmquist said.
mpriddy@ atheadbeacon.com
The casino was the subject of the Aug. 2 Board of Adjustment meeting, but it was delayed until the September meeting.
If it is allowed, the casino would be built where old buildings exist now in the lot next door to Ohs Auto Body on U.S. Highway 93. The entrance to the casino would be o of Hodgson Road to avoid snarling tra c on the highway.
The Sept. 6 meeting takes place at 6 p.m. Board of Adjustment meetings usu- ally take place on the second oor of the Earl Bennett Building. However, any- one planning on attending should dou- ble-check before the meeting, because it could be held in the new South Cam- pus Building depending on how quickly the planning department is moved over there.
For the full sta report, visit www. at- head.mt.gov/planning_zoning, and click the option for “Meeting Information.” The planning o ce is available at (406) 751-8200.
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AUGUST 31, 2016 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM