×

Baraga, Houghton approve budgets

HOUGHTON — Houghton and Baraga counties approved budgets for the coming fiscal year at special meetings this week.

Houghton County approved its 2023 fiscal year budget Thursday morning. The general fund budget includes $10,888,132 in expenditures versus $10,905,431 in revenues.

Administrator Elizabeth Bjorn said outside of one-time cash infusions like American Rescue Plan Act funding, state and federal revenues have been shrinking since 2013.

“It’s a tight budget,” said administrator Elizabeth Bjorn. “There is not a lot of wiggle room for additional emergency, for errors. But we just have to make do with what we have.”

The board approved the budget with an amendment from Commissioner Glenn Anderson to change the money given to the Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance from $10,000 to $20,000, the amount that had been approved last year.

Commissioner Kevin Codere said he thought the county should increase charges at the transfer station to make the facility self-sustaining. He noted the county had invested $150,000 in ARPA money at the facility. It should be able to have at least $100,000 a year go into a sinking fund for capital expenses, he said.

“I don’t think taxpayers should support something that users should support,” he said. “Obviously, the users are taxpayers, but not all taxpayers are users.”

Chair Tom Tikkanen agreed with Codere that ideally the county should not compete with private enterprise. However, he said, too-high rate increases could lead to a return of widespread illegal dumping in the woods.

“I’m just a little concerned from the potential environmental impact,” he said. “I sense that probably the majority of residents in Polk County want us to continue to move forward in keeping our environment safe and clean.”

Wednesday night, Baraga County approved a general fund budget of $4,181,766, up 3.4% from the amended end-of-year budget also approved Wednesday.

Aside from health insurance increases and raises, the budget looked similar to last year, said Clerk Wendy Goodreau.

Wage increases were also approved Wednesday. The county clerk and treasurer received raises of $3,000 per year. The prosecutor, sheriff, juvenile case worker and equalization director received raises of $1,200.

Increases were also added for hourly staff. The part-time Level II assessor received a $2 an hour raise. The circuit court clerk, deputy register of deeds and the deputy equalization director received $1.50 an hour. Raises of 50 cents an hour went to employees in the clerk and treasurer’s office, district court and probate court, as well as the prosecutor’s administrative assistant.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today