Hailey's 2005-2006 fiscal year budget will be slightly lower than last year, when for the first time it crossed the $10 million mark. The City Council on Monday approved a preliminary budget not to exceed $10.3 million, a 5 percent decrease.
"This is what you would call a flat budget," said Hailey City Clerk Heather Dawson. Since the city amended its fee structure last year it has seen an increase in revenues from fines and fees. But annexation and in-lieu fees will be greatly reduced because fees for the Airport West subdivision being paid to the city will come to a close this year and no future substantial annexations have been approved.
The proposed budget includes the equivalent of two positions in the Planning and Building departments and the library. It also shows a $50,000 reduction in the chief executive's budget, as the position of city administrator, which was terminated last year and initially included in the budget, will not be filled for the upcoming fiscal year.
Funding for a new fire station on Parcel O, land granted to the city by Sprenger, Grubb and Associates from Woodside Plat 15, is includd in the budget. For now, $70,000 is included for planning. The Hailey Fire Department hopes to break ground in spring 2006, when more funding in the form of grants should also be available.
Some $260,000 is budgeted for the first phase of development for Woodside Central Park, which includes ground preparation and installation of irrigation and turf. A future phase will allow for trees and shrubs to be planted with the help of future grant money.