HELENA – On Monday, The City of Helena approved its preliminary budget for fiscal year 2019, which starts July 1.
There aren’t many significant changes to this year’s budget, though $750,000 has been set aside to pay for the costs of relocating the Helena Police Department and the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office from the current law enforcement center to another building in downtown Helena.
City Manager Ron Alles said much of the city’s budget for expenditures will be needed for improvements to Helena’s infrastructure. Consistent with past years, nearly 50 percent of Helena’s expenditures will be used for public works.
“I like to think this is a responsible operating budget,” Alles said at Monday’s commission meeting. “You’ll find that our challenges – while many – much relates to our infrastructure and its the water, waste, storm water and streets that are our biggest dollar items.”
The preliminary budget also includes nearly $4 million for plants and utility equipment for water and wastewater as well as $2.6 million for street improvements.
Alles said the city hopes to have the final budget approved by June 26.
