PRIEST RIVER — City Council adopted a "tentative" budget Monday of $7,959,865 for fiscal year 2019, which if adopted, would be just over $10,000 less than the current year's budget.

"Once we set our tentative budget, it can never go higher than that; it can only come down," said Mayor Jim Martin.

If the numbers listed in the tentative budget are adopted during a public hearing later this month, city residents will see an increase on their water/wastewater bill of more than $7 per month.

"We have always tried to keep our increases at like 4 percent a year, which is 85 or 90 cents a year for maintenance and operation," Martin said. "But what's happened is the cost ... whether its power, propane, parts, chemicals — everything has gone up and continues to go up more than 4 percent."

The city's general fund is tentatively set at $1,331,388. During a July 23 workshop, the general fund was not yet balanced with revenues projected at $1,294,342, with expenditures of $1,336,502 — a deficit of $42,160. Following discussion by council members, city clerk and treasurer Laurel Thomas said on Monday that she reallocated property taxes so that 75 percent go into the general fund and 25 percent go toward the streets fund, resulting in balanced budgets for both.

City Council also discussed a proposal to hire a full time parks and facility maintenance person. Those tasks are currently contracted out, Martin said. The salary for the position is tentatively reflected in the parks department budget.

Martin said the proposed budget also includes an increase in entry-level salaries for city employees to $15 per hour.

"What we are finding as job markets are tighter, trying to hire entry-level people at $14 an hour is just not happening," he said.

The street budget is tentatively set at $2,401,820; the water fund at $716,065; the wastewater fund at $3,497,751; and impact fees at $12,841. A public hearing will be scheduled in August prior to adoption of the budget.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.