Sun Valley council approves tentative FY2016-17 budget, sets Aug. 4 public hearing

The Sun Valley City Council approved a tentative budget for fiscal year 2016–17 on July 12, 2016 after a multi-hour review and targeted line-item changes.

Mayor Peter Hendricks opened the special meeting and read an email from Evan Robertson of the Sun Valley Water and Sewer District thanking the council for work on daytime watering restrictions. Council Member Michelle Griffith moved to approve the tentative budget "as discussed with the changes made," and Council Member Brad DuFur seconded. A roll call vote recorded ayes from Council President Keith Saks, Council Member Michelle Griffith, Council Member Jane Conard and Council Member Brad DuFur; there were no nays. The Mayor declared the motion approved.

The council made specific adjustments across departments: reductions to a proposed projector/movie-night purchase (set at $3,500), reinstatement of certain wildland-fire-related revenue and expenditure lines for the Fire Department, reductions to some capital equipment requests, cuts to motor-fuel estimates for the Street Department, and increases in contingency to $75,000. The council also directed staff to advertise legal notice for a public hearing on Aug. 4, 2016 at 4:00 p.m. on the annual appropriation ordinance.

The vote finalized the council’s recommended tentative appropriations but does not enact the annual budget; the public hearing on Aug. 4 will allow for public comment before final adoption.