Kalispell proposes $78M budget for 2020

The Kalispell City Council will hold a public hearing tonight to consider a $78 million preliminary budget for fiscal year 2020.

The proposed budget is roughly $12 million less than last year, due largely to significant progress on capital projects over the past year. The city anticipates fewer expenditures on capital projects such as the nearly completed Westside Interceptor. City Manager Doug Russell said the majority of expenditures are done on the CORE Area redevelopment project.

Property taxes will remain the primary source of revenue within the budget’s general fund. Until the city receives the final property valuations in early August, it is unclear how the proposed budget will affect property taxes. Russell said the city hopes to stay at the same mill levy assessment.

“We don’t anticipate a dramatic increase based on what we’re doing,” Russell said. But he added that it’s always a challenge to estimate the impact on property taxes before receiving the state appraisals.

The 2020 budget focuses heavily on completing the CORE Area project and railroad track removal. The design work for the CORE Area is expected to be completed this fall and the track removal and trail construction are set to begin in 2020, he said.

The city also proposes to add two full-time positions in the upcoming fiscal year — a GIS specialist in the Public Works Department and a full-time position in the City Attorney’s Office. The Attorney’s Office wants to address the high case load currently handled by a part-time contract employee in the prosecutor’s office.

The 2020 budget also proposes funding for two capital projects: construction of a storage facility for law enforcement and renovation of the top floor of City Hall.

There will be another public hearing on Aug. 19 after the city receives the state numbers and the council is ready to vote on a final budget.

The proposed budget document can be found at: https://www.kalispell.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/123.

In other business, the council will also discuss a resolution to approve a revised preliminary phase I plat for the Montana Basecamp recreational vehicle park. The council will take public comment. This resolution would approve a revised preliminary phase I plat for a 62-space RV park supported by a secured improvement agreement with the city. On Sept. 4, 2018, the City Council passed Resolution 5900, which approved the preliminary phase 1 plat of Montana Basecamp. On June 3, 2019, the owner of record listed how each of the 41 original conditions of the preliminary plat had been met or otherwise addressed. The council will therefore discuss the conditions of the preliminary plat and determine the revision of the Phase 1 Plat and improved security agreement for the remaining phases of development.

The council also will discuss the Meadow’s Edge phase 1A final plat and Subdivision Improvement Agreement. The 45-lot residential subdivision is located on Mountain Vista Way. On June 4, 2018, the City Council approved the preliminary plat for Meadows Edge. All 33 original conditions have been met or adequately addressed, so Meadow’s Edge LLC is now seeking approval for a final plat request and subdivision improvement agreement between the city and WGM Group Inc.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at Kalispell City Hall, 201 First Ave. E.

Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at bserbin@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4459.