By BRIAN WALKER

Staff Writer

COEUR d'ALENE — Perhaps it was new growth that kept a large crowd from barking at Kootenai County's budget that was approved Wednesday night with a 1.5 percent property tax increase.

Commissioners, on a 2-1 vote, approved the county's fiscal 2019 budget of $94.1 million following a public hearing that drew about 60 attendees but only four folks to the podium to comment.

Bob Bingham and Chris Fillios supported the budget proposal, while Marc Eberlein opposed it.

"We need to keep a tight rein on spending," Eberlein said after the hourlong meeting. "Just because the economy is great doesn't give you a license to tax."

Eberlein said new positions are an example of how he believes further cuts should've been made.

Finance Director Dena Darrow said 28 new positions were requested, but only seven made the cut.

Athol's Deborah Rose said she doesn't always agree with the decisions county leaders make, but she thanked staff for making the county run smoothly.

Resident Russell McLain urged commissioners to take the full 3 percent tax increase that is allowed under state law because he believes the sheriff's office is falling behind on staffing to keep up with the demand for services.

Frank Davis said he opposed the budget, accusing leaders of making "backroom deals" on spending after the budget has been approved.

"There's no reason to have a budget if you're not going to come close to following it," he said, adding that the additional expenditures during the year are not fair to agencies that consistently come in under budget.

Dave Fair, a Kootenai County Fairgrounds board member, urged commissioners to increase the amount to the fair from $75,000 to $150,000. The amount for the current year is $175,000.

"I believe in the value of the fair," Fair said. "I think it is a wise investment. It is a small amount that goes a long way."

Improvements have included sidewalks, lighting and bathroom upgrades.

"Some bathrooms look good and some you really don't want to go into," Fair said. "And that's scary coming from somebody who lives on a farm."

However, the budget was approved as presented.

The tax increase will generate about $687,982 in revenue.

County officials estimate most homeowners will see a $22.66 reduction per $100,000 of home value in the county portion of its taxes even with the hike due to the help of new growth dollars.

Darrow said the county had nearly $2 billion worth of new growth that will more than offset the tax hike in most cases.

Commissioners took a 1.5 percent property tax hike for the current year, a 3 percent bump for fiscal 2017 and no increase in fiscal 2016.

Wage increases of 2.5 percent totaling $735,990 are planned in the budget. That figure does not include sworn personnel, which use a matrix system. The total amount of increases planned for sworn staff is $231,120.

The budget also includes $40,000 in video equipment so commissioner meetings can be televised.

In other business, the commissioners unanimously approved:

- the Emergency Medical Services' budget of $8.3 million;

- the Aquifer Protection District's budget of $555,694;

- not allowing future commissioners to use the $687,982 in foregone taxes that will be generated as a result of the current board not taking the full 3 percent tax hike;

- and a 1.5 percent pay decrease for Bingham, who vowed during his campaign last year to decrease his salary by the same percentage of any tax hike he favored.