Hungry Horse news., 1955-07-29
Columbia Falls Boosts Budget for Parks

Columbia Falls proposed budget |
for 1856 includes an increase from
three to five mills for park pur-
poses. Other factors in the larger
budget are paying for two police
men instead Of one and paying may
or and councilmen salaries, posi-
tons which previously were not paid.
Public hearing by the city council
on the proposed new budget will be
Wednesday at 8 p. m. in the city
hall.
Total expenditures by the city as
scheduled appear to be about $751;
600.
Total levy is slated to be 41.63
mills compared to 1898 last year.
Columbia Falls showed the larg-
est increase in tax base of any Flat
head city, according to Grant Camp
bell, county assessor. The prelimin-
airy 1855 tax base for Columbia
Falls is $629,472 compared to $685.
1877 last year. A 40 mill levy this
year as a result should raise $25,-
1888 compared to $21, 762.68 last
year.
New features in the proposed bud
get include $2,628 to pay the mayor
and councilmen. They we're not paid
previously.
4 Effective July l, Mayor Herman
Benzien receives $50 a month. The
council at the budget meeting Mon
day voted to pay him an additional
$25 month for expenses.
Councilmen effective July are to
, receive $12 meeting not exceeding
J $24 a month
t The park fund of 5 mills-boosted
: from 3-will raise $3,147.85. This in
cludes $1,000 to pay half of the street
' and park commissioners salary.
Salaries paid by the city include:
: city clerk, $270 a month; city hal
: janitor, $35 a month; city health Of
: ficer, 500 a year; city dump care
5 taker, $40 month; city treasurer 81
a month; police Judge, $50 month
: city attorney, $3.50 month; chief o
!, police, $3.50 a month; policeman
u $500 a month; water commissions
$3.50 month plus SOS a month TO
1 being fire chief, and assistant waite
II commissioner $500 a month.
q The city has been operating with
. out a street commissioner this sum
lner. Salary had been $500 month
i Other proposed new expenditure
include $500 for the ambulance fund
and purchase of new picku
through an August 18th bid opening
The pickup will be for the water d
partment
i Anticipated revenue by the city
i addition to the mill levy incl
$4,000 from housing project W
= tails 5000 of this is to be transfe
red to the street fund.- y $120 We;
from Pacific Power and Light c
for pole space rentals; $2,210.75 fro
liquor, dog, bicycle and other licen
ing, and 81 900 scheduled as revenl
from a new tax on businesses.
Permits and city hall rental is
bring $76O, county to city for Il
dump, $500, police court fines $3.50
sale of gravel and oil tank spac
81 900.
Largest income producer is t
water department with $50, 003.A
dictated during 1855 as revenu
Interest and debt retirement "
take $17,715 of this total, salari
1920; maintenance and operation
$8,192.66 and capital outlay, $2,5
81 There is a cash balance of $1,824.
The city spends about $1,000 we
- for street lighting with the spec
= levy $3.50 a lot. Property own'
pay rs per cent directly and the C
Is per cent for street lighting.
N Tentative levy of 41.63 mills
~ should be somewhat lower) is div
LAT ed as follows: general fund 20 mi
lac firemen's retirement / mill, fire
lad. partment 2 mills, street and all
. 10 mills maximum allowed; p;
5 mills, and revolving fund to final
special improvement districts,
mills, an increase from last yea
.68.