SANDPOINT — While the city budget for the 2016-2017 year is up about $7.5 million from the previous year, City Administrator Jennifer Stapleton said that is largely due to capital improvement projects.

"Sandpoint is a little city with a lot going on," Stapleton said.

During the Sandpoint City Council's Aug. 17 meeting, council members voted to adopt the $39,419,820 budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1. Of that, $18,537,680 is for capital projects, including War Memorial Field and the Schweitzer Bridge and Downtown Revitalization projects.

Councilman Bob Camp voiced concerns he has heard from the community regarding the increase in the budget. He was the only council member to vote no on the budget adoption "for those that are opposed to it."

Council members opted to increase the city’s property tax revenue by 3 percent as allowed under Idaho law, which amounts to $114,753. That is an overall revenue growth within the taxing district, not a 3 percent increase on individual property taxes, so the impact on individual property taxes will vary.

The maximum amount of property tax budget that can be levied in the 2016-2017 fiscal year is $3,913,794. This includes the 3 percent increase as well as new construction and annexation.

The budget includes $15,797 in foregone funds. Money levied from property taxes in previous years that is not spent goes into a foregone fund, which can be used the following year. The $15,797 is allocated to the fire department's volunteer program. The city used to receive money from Bonner County to support the volunteer program, but the county no longer provides that funding, Stapleton said.

Stapleton said the projects the city plans to take on this year are substantial. The Memorial Field project is a nearly $4.5 million improvement supported by a five-year voter-approved 1 percent Local Option Tax. The project includes grandstand and entryway replacement, as well as turf improvement. Stapleton said no decision has been made specifically to address the turf issues, but said the city is "not leaning toward artificial turf." Demolition of the grandstands is set to begin in October, and Stapleton said the hope is the entire project will be finished by June.

Schweitzer Cutoff Road is a multi-million dollar grant as well, she said, at about $3.2 million. Sandpoint and Ponderay are partnering to replace the Sand Creek Bridge. The road on the Sandpoint side of the bridge is currently being widened and a bike path added. A roundabout is planned at the intersection of North Boyer as well.

The return to two-way streets in the Fifth Avenue area will be funded in 2016-2017 budget, as well as a "City Beach master plan" that is in the works. The city acquired the property at Farmin's Landing behind the Panida Theater earlier this year, which Stapleton said is an important area as far as stormwater management and an important gateway to the city. Improvements to the area will be included in the downtown revitalization projects.

The Schweitzer Cutoff and downtown revitalization projects are supported by by grants through the federal government and the Sandpoint Urban Renewal Agency.

"One of our administrative goals, and specifically a project that I am working on, is moving to performance measures and long-term strategic-based budgeting, so that is something we will be implementing next year," Stapleton said. "So we are really moving into a planning and heavy capital projects year."

The other $20 million, outside of capital improvements, include administrative costs, ongoing programs and operations of the city. Stapleton said they added three new positions as well.

One position is a deputy treasurer and assistant finance manager and will be a temporary position that will start in July 2017 for six months. The current treasurer and finance manager, Shannon Syth, is planning to retire in 2018.

"That's a critical position to the city and from a strategic standpoint and ensuring effective transition and continuity, our intent was to bring on someone who will be Shannon's replacement and have a six-month overlap so that we don't have a lot of disruption to financial reporting, overall management, the budget process, the audit," Stapleton said.

A wastewater superintendent was added because Stapleton said significant new requirements by the Environmental Protection Agency are coming to the wastewater facility. The idea is to bring someone in with the technical experience to make the changes needed.

The final position added is a grants administrator and project manager. Stapleton said the city had the position in the past, but eliminated because of declining revenues and downturn in the economy. She said the city retained $20,000 in the budget over the last couple of years to contract out some of the services, so that money will rollover to the new position.

"One of the criticism's with this is I have a strong background, have run grants administration departments at two other entities, but my role here is different," Stapleton said, adding that she is the city administrator, not a grant writer for the city.