More than a half million dollars in cuts are being offered up as a way to reduce the city of Whitefish's proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year.  

Whitefish City Council raised concerns in earlier budget work sessions about a proposed increase in property taxes to fund the fiscal year 2027 budget. During a work session on Monday at 5:30 p.m., Council is set to deliberate on the budget and hear a proposal from City Manager Dana Meeker on ways to trim it.  

City Council meets for the regular meeting at 7:10 p.m. at City Hall, 418 E. Second St. 

The preliminary budget totals about $63.4 million, which is an increase over the previous fiscal year budget of $59.6 million.  The budget includes an increase in expenditures of about $2 million, which is split evenly between capital projects and an increase in personnel services.   

The draft budget plans to levy 10 additional mills over the previous fiscal year. To reduce the property tax revenue increase by roughly half, city staff has created a list of protentional cuts that — if all are accepted — would reduce spending by about $560,000.  

Topping the list is $191,000 for engineering for the replacement of the Stumptown Ice Den roof, which has been leaking for years. A new metal roof for the rink has been in the works for $2 million.  

Other cuts include a 2% market rate wage increase for non-union employees at a cost of $93,000, removing a mechanic position at about $77,000, a court clerk position at $67,000 and an assistant library director at $54,500.  

The budget factors in a decrease in resort tax relief of about $176,000 from the previous year. The increase in the budget as a result is about 3% and simply keeps the city revenue flat from the prior year, Meeker notes in her budget memo.  

Whitefish is estimating collecting 8% in new property tax revenue in its budget. Of that 3.4% is related to the capital levy for a ladder truck purchase leaving about 4.6% or $445,000 for operations.  

"Any additional cuts will require a reduction in services or increase in charges for services, such as summer day camp and after school programs that currently do not break even," Meeker said.  

Council is set to vote on the final budget in August.  

There are no public hearings on the agenda for the evening.  

COUNCIL IS expected to vote on a resolution allowing for the destruction of municipal records in accordance with state law and a resolution setting annual goals for the city.  

At the end of the meeting, Council is expected to provide direction regarding the construction of a second fire station north of the Baker Avenue viaduct. The city has been in talks with the Iron Horse Golf Club Homeowners Association regarding a protentional station on a piece of land along East Lakeshore Drive.  

Iron Horse would donate the property and lead a capital campaign to fundraise the costs for the station and necessary fire apparatus. The city would be responsible for funding operational costs and staffing.  

The original proposal for 12 firefighters to staff the city current and the planned station came with an estimated cost of $1.95 and $2.25 million, but City Manager Dana Meeker and Fire Chief Cole Hadley, have created a proposal for nine firefighters to staff the stations that would cost between $1.5 million and $1.65 million if the project is completed within the next three years.  

"Construction and staffing of a northern fire station represent one of the most significant public safety investments the city of Whitefish can make to maintain emergency service levels while accommodating future growth. In our opinion, the updated nine-firefighter proposal represents a reasonable compromise that balances fiscal responsibility with the level of service our community expects," they wrote in a memo to Council.  

Meeker and Hadley are recommending that if Council wants to proceed with the project that the increased funding for staffing be put before voters through a ballot initiative along with other capital needs for emergency services.  

Deputy Editor Heidi Desch can be reached at 406-758-4421 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.