Council reviews major FY2018 budget items in work session

The Sun Valley City Council spent much of its June 16 special meeting reviewing proposed FY2018 budgets across departments and funds.

Public Safety Director Femling reviewed the Police Department accounts and said 'not much has changed.' The council then considered Fire Department proposals and approved a staffing and wage change to promote two firefighters, hire three new firefighter/EMTs and raise wages to the $49,000 range to aid recruitment. Street Superintendent Whitesell and City Administrator Robertson reviewed Street, Street & Path, Fixed Asset, Debt Service, Workforce Housing and Capital Improvement funds. Robertson explained the Debt Service Fund will remain unused until the City requires debt financing; council asked that Capital Improvement Fund expenditures be listed by priority for future review.

Council President Saks successfully moved to amend the agenda to add a Fund Balance item; Robertson and Hendricks reviewed ending balances and said growth drivers included sales tax, new condos and decreased expenditures. The council recommended making Fund Balance the first budget item in future reviews and deferred further bond and capital prioritization discussion to a later meeting.