Moscow, idaho, City Supervisor Gary Riedner and city staff presented the details of the city's proposed fiscal year 2018 budget, which includes a $10 million bond residents would vote on in May, to City Council members at a budget workshop Monday.
Riedner said the proposed $10 million bond, which would fund a new police station, fire equipment, street improvements and infrastructure, is a placeholder in the budget at this point. If at least 66.7 percent of voters approve the bond, then the proposed $79.8 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which runs Oct. 1, 2017 to Sept. 30, 2018, would remain the same. If the bond is rejected, then the budget would be reduced by $10 million.
The $10 million bond was also a placeholder in last year's budget, but the bond was never voted on because the city discovered an opportunity to explore re-purposing the Federal Building as a police station and city offices. Riedner said the city is still studying the feasibility of the Moscow Police Department moving into the building on East Fifth Street, and he said he anticipates presenting those findings in late August or early September.
Improving deteriorating pavement conditions will continue to be one of the primary focuses for the city next year. The proposal calls for $872,346 for the Pavement Maintenance Program, an increase of more than $170,000 from fiscal year 2017 and more than $470,000 from previous years.
"That is a huge chunk and it's a commitment that (City) Council indicated they wanted to make," Riedner said.
There is also money set aside for the Third Street multimodal bridge project, which would span Paradise Creek and provide vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian access at the east end of Third Street. Many residents have used public comment periods at City Council meetings to speak in opposition to the proposed vehicular bridge and in favor of a pedestrian and bicycle bridge.
The proposed budget also includes a 3 percent property tax increase, a 6.3 percent water rate increase for residential and commercial users and a 4.5 percent sewer rate increase for all classes of users.
A public hearing for the proposed budget and fee resolution is scheduled for Aug. 7.
