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Introduction

The Sandpoint City Council unanimously passed a $34.6 million dollar budget for Fiscal Year 2021 and approved a budget ordinance at their September 2, 2020 meeting which provides $934,757 in property tax relief for Sandpoint taxpayers.

The tax relief is provided through Governor Little’s Public Safety Grant Initiative for Cities and Counties. Cities and counties must voluntarily opt in to participate in this program which leverages federal coronavirus relief funds to cover local public safety personnel salaries, and gives cities and counties the opportunity to pass on the savings to property taxpayers. Participating jurisdictions must agree not to increase their tax levy or use any foregone levy amount available from prior years. The property tax levy rate in Sandpoint for 2021 is projected at $3.78 per $1,000 of assessed property value as compared to $4.70 in 2020.

Based on a median valued home of $359,000 with a homeowner’s exemption, the property tax savings from the prior year will be $240.28.

“The City, through good fiscal stewardship, is in a strong financial position that enables participation in this program without impacting city services,” remarked Mayor Shelby Rognstad. “We are pleased to be able to pass along the tax relief to our property owners in Sandpoint.”

The 2021 budget is approximately $4.7 million less than 2020 due to completion of Phase 2 Downtown Revitalization Project in 2020 and the end of the 5-year voter approved Local Option Sales Tax on December 31, 2020. This tax was approved by voters in 2016 and revenues received through the tax funded the construction of the new Cotton Barlow Stadium and gateway at War Memorial Field, the recent field improvements and upcoming improvements to the parking lot, lighting, boat launch and waterfront access.