Budget season is underway

Ketchum’s proposed 1998-99 fiscal year budget already has sparked a cause for concern among local business owners.

The budget calls for a 3 percent increase in the Sun Valley/Ketchum Chamber of Commerce cash allocation, where the chamber had requested a 46 percent increase over the previous fiscal year.

On Monday night, as the budget was presented to the City Council, Carol Waller, executive director of the chamber, asked the council to reconsider the allocation.

"We’re still playing catch-up from 10 years ago," Waller said. "The bottom line is we still have a long way to go."

Waller noted that $465,000 of the budget was still unallocated.

"Please reinvest in the economic development of the community," she said, pointing out that Sun Valley had just been ranked the nation’s number one ski resort by Gourmet magazine.

Polly Noe, who owns an antique store on Leadville Avenue, repeated Waller’s request.

"I can’t afford to advertise nationally," she said. "I rely on the chamber to bring business to Ketchum."

Waller will present a detailed proposal to the council with the chamber’s fiscal year goal at noon on July 30.

The council will begin holding regular budget discussions this week. At noon on July 9 the council will discuss the legislative and executive, finance and administration and city attorney allocations, including the increase in health insurance costs for city employees.

At noon on July 10 the council will discuss the planning and zoning, community housing and other general government allocations.