If the city of Coeur d’Alene is going to delay filling vacant positions to save money, Councilor Christie Wood wants to make sure it doesn’t affect the police department. 

“When it comes to not filling positions, I think we want to have a real good discussion about that,” Wood said during a recent workshop on the city’s proposed $152.3 million budget. 

The retired police sergeant was referencing a recommendation by finance director and treasurer Katie Ebner that the city consider leaving unfilled positions vacant to help balance a budget deficit. 

The proposed spending plan calls for a 3% property tax hike and 1% from forgone taxes.   

The City Council will consider adopting the budget Sept. 2. 

The current proposal would use $1.84 million from the General Fund balance, leaving a projected $11.2 million of unassigned fund balance at the end of fiscal year 2026, which is about 19% of General Fund expenditures.  

The Government Finance Officers Association recommends a fund balance of 25% to protect against economic downturn or unexpected costs. 

"I believe the City’s unassigned fund balance is sufficient for now, but the size of the deficit is a concern, as it will quickly erode the financial reserves if it is not addressed,” Ebner said. 

As part of addressing the issue, Ebner requested department heads trim 1% of their budget and leave vacant positions unfilled.

The Coeur d’Alene Police Department currently has three vacant officer positions out of a force of about 100. 

Wood said it can take 18 months or longer from the time a new police officer is hired before they are qualified to be in the field. A hiring hold would stretch that out even longer.

“That's different than a lot of our other departments,” Wood said. “It’s not equal when we talk about holding or freezing a position.” 

Wood said public safety is critical and said she would oppose any effort to defund police or hold off on hiring officers. 

She wanted assurances that the proposed budget would not include anything about a hiring freeze or leaving positions open in the police department. 

Ebner said personnel is a substantial cost for the city, which has about 420 employees and only six openings, and it is where the city can save money.

“My recommendation has nothing to do with any certain department,” Ebner said. “It is really important that we look at saving where we can.” 

Police Chief Lee White said police departments almost universally maintain a certain number of vacancies, as it’s “almost impossible to be fully staffed at the same time" as injuries, retirements and resignations come into play. 

He said that in his 11 years as the city’s police chief, they have been fully staffed for only five weeks. 

White said he would not want to see the police department keeping positions vacant. He said even fully staffed, they don’t have an adequate number of police considering their work volume. He said the city is really six officers below what their force should be in the summer.

“Adding more frozen positions to that would just create more of an issue for us, especially during the summer months, which is our busiest time,” White said. 

Ebner said while the operational deficit is a concern, she is confident after working with the mayor and city council that they are committed to balancing the budget.  

"This budget challenge is not unique to Coeur d’Alene. Cities across Idaho face similar property tax restrictions that limit the ability of budgets to keep pace with population growth,” she said. 

Meanwhile, the City Council unanimously voted to approve a motion by Councilor Dan Gookin that the City Council refuse its annual cost-of-living wage, 3.5%, to save nearly $3,000.

Councilors make $15,000 a year. 

While acknowledging the savings are little, Gookin said, "it’s interesting for us to go out in public and request a 4% property tax hike when in fact we want ourselves a pay raise."

Wood agreed the council should decline to accept a raise.

“I think it sets a good example," she said.