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No new jail in Houghton County budget

HOUGHTON – The Houghton County Board approved an $11.35 million budget for the coming fiscal year at its meeting Tuesday.

The county is budgeting $11,350,312 for all expenditures in the coming year, versus $11,369,363 in revenues. For the general fund, the numbers are $9,420,056 in revenues and $9,399,622 in expenses.

Administrator Eric Forsberg said the county continues to have the lowest amount of property tax per capita in the Upper Peninsula. The county’s average is $147.64, versus the Upper Peninsula average of $201.81.

The county’s fund balance is at around $3 million, Forsberg said.

The budget passed by a 4-1 vote, with Commissioner Scott Ala dissenting. He said rather than see the county put $18,000 toward employees’ pension funds, he would have liked to see the county start a fund towards the construction of a new county jail. He suggested $1 million be put into the general fund.

“I just didn’t think that that was a very good way to spend that money,” he said. “I think we should have an actual earmarked fund that that money goes into every single year.”

Sheriff Brian McLean said other areas have larger population bases and more money available. The county has tried several options over the years, from going to local contractors asking them to build a facility which the county would then buy to 2010’s millage for a combined jail, Sheriff’s Department and Circuit Court.

“I don’t know what the answer is,” he said.

Chairman Al Koskela said the money given to employees was that already owed to them.

“That’s got to be paid,” he said. “Once that’s paid, you can start budgeting money any way you want, but we owe that money … you’ll never catch up if you don’t pay the bill.”

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