NEWS
2 • June 2013
Ride Horses This Summer!
The Current
mps West Valley Farm Horse Riding Ca -25 June 25-27 • July 9-11 • July 23 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily Ages 6 to 14 years anced All levels from first time to adv ed! Horses are provid
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Registering Students for 2013-14 Quality Academic Programs Safe Environment and Strong Moral Foundation Promoting Community Service Preschool — Ages 3 to 5 Full Day Kindergarten Before and After School Care Options for Home Schooled Students Tours every Wednesday from 9:30-2:30 Private Visits or Tours Arranged
501 N. Walnut | Spokane, WA 99216 | 926-7987 | www.st.johnvianney.com
Adult: Groundbreaking Reads
Tweens & Teens: Beneath the Surface
Youth: Dig Into Reading
SUMMER READING
at your library kicks off in June! A diverse collection of programs for everyone — adults, families, children, tweens & teens. Topics and events include, history, concerts, murder mystery, gardening, crafts, anime, writing, and much more! Visit our website for details or grab a program guide from your nearest library location.
Current photo by craig howard
Mark Calhoun became the second finance director in Spokane Valley’s history in June 2011.
Money maestro Calhoun oversees city of Spokane Valley finances By Craig Howard Current Contributor
Mark Calhoun scarcely had time to place a decorative fern in his new office before meeting with representatives of the Spokane Valley City Council to review municipal money matters in June 2011. On his second day as Spokane Valley finance director, Calhoun attended the first of several budget workshops leading up to the passage of the city’s fiscal gameplan for the following year. He had come to the Valley after 19 years with the city of Wenatchee, replacing Ken Thompson, the first and only finance director in Spokane Valley’s brief history. With roots in the region — Calhoun earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Montana — the newest member of the city’s administrative team settled in quickly to his new role. Like his predecessor, Calhoun brought a calm, even-keeled approach to arguably the most demanding job at City Hall — overseeing the state of cash in Washington’s 10th largest jurisdiction. Including Calhoun, the finance department now consists of 11 employees, seven of whom fall under the “accounting” banner. This month, Calhoun and crew will begin the daunting task of sorting through individual budgets submitted by each municipal department. The first budget workshop is scheduled for June 18 with an optimum timeline for passage by late October. While Calhoun admits “it’s tough to make a budget interesting,” there are certain facets of the process that creep beyond bland — like the rally made on the sales tax front in 2012. Led by the usual Spo-
A Cup of Joe kane Valley revenue staples — auto dealerships and retail behemoths like Costco and Home Depot — the city raked in $15.4 million in sales tax proceeds, surpassing forecasts by well over $1 million. The Current caught up with Calhoun recently at Spokane Valley City Hall to talk taxes, roads, reserves and the ongoing challenge of making a budget interesting.
Q.
This month marks your twoyear anniversary as finance director for the city of Spokane Valley. Do you ever have any regrets about leaving Wenatchee, your professional home for almost 20 years?
A.
No regrets, but I find that I still miss friends, co-workers and the familiarity of the place that was our home for such a long time. This, however, is balanced by the fact my wife and I are enjoying our new community and have felt very welcomed into it. Q. We’ve always heard how fiscally stable the city of Spokane Valley is compared to other jurisdictions throughout
See CALHOUN, page 4