The Flathead County Commission took an unusual step last week in giving preliminary approval for the 2012-2013 county budget.
Final approval for the budget, which will also include a public hearing, will take place in late August or September, according to County Administrator Mike Pence. The commission doesn’t usually vote on preliminary approval, he said, but he thought it was appropriate that the board take this step to make sure everyone is on the same page moving forward.
One of the biggest changes from the last fiscal year is a 2.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment increase for county employees. The past several budgets have not included raises for these employees, with county officials citing the recession and budgetary pressures.
Even so, Pence said the recommended increase was 3.2 percent, but Flathead County decided to stay at 2.5 percent. The COLA increase does not include four unions with county employees, Pence said, and negotiations with those unions are ongoing.
The county intends on spending nearly $75,200,000 for the fiscal year in levied and non-levied funds, compared to the nearly $79 million spent in the previous fiscal year. Pence said that the difference between the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 expenditures is due largely to several major construction projects completed in the last year, such as the county courthouse renovation.
The commission gave unanimous preliminary approval and will give final approval later this year.