The Pocatello City Council is facing opposition over its proposed budget plan for the fiscal year 2023-24. During a recent open forum, two city residents expressed their concerns about the budget plan and raised various points of contention.
Lydia Noble and Heather Disselkoen, who run the Facebook page Pocatello for Accountable Government Entities, voiced their opposition to the proposed budget plan. They highlighted the lack of discussions regarding potential spending cuts and expressed their belief that necessary projects were being overlooked. Disselkoen also questioned the council’s decision to move funds from the general fund to an emergency savings account without a formal motion and vote.
The proposed budget plan includes 12 new full-time city positions, an 11.4% salary increase for Mayor Brian Blad and council members, $100,000 for city branding, and $7,925,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds allocated to the Ross Park Slide and pickleball court development.
The city’s chief financial officer, Gene Hill, explained that costs are increasing across the board, citing rising material and energy prices as reasons for a potential property tax hike of up to 3% to maintain basic service levels.
Following the comments from Noble and Disselkoen, the public forum was closed, and the proposed budget plan was moved on for further discussion and eventual adoption. The council must approve a budget plan before the fiscal year begins on October 1st.
The decision to eliminate public comments from council meetings has been met with frustration from some residents. Signs demanding the return of public comment were held by attendees at the meeting, echoing previous concerns. In February, the council permanently removed the Items from the Audience agenda item, citing an inability to address concerns raised during that portion of meetings.
The next regular council meeting is scheduled for August 17th, where further discussions on the budget plan are expected. Residents are eager to have their voices heard and express their concerns directly to the council.
Overall, the Pocatello City Council is facing opposition over its proposed budget plan, with residents expressing their dissatisfaction with the lack of discussions on spending cuts and important projects being overlooked. The council must address these concerns and find a balance between maintaining basic services and managing costs to gain public support for the budget plan.
