Houghton Looks To Future Of DDA & TIFA Plans

The City of Houghton is making moves to ensure revenue from certain tax captures remain in place for the foreseeable future.

Public hearings were held prior to the City Council’s regular meeting Wednesday on a proposed ordinance to extend the Downtown Development Authority Plan (DDA) until 2040, and a resolution for the extension of the Tax Increment Finance Plan (TIFA), also until 2040.

City Manager Eric Waara says the revenue to the DDA goes toward making the downtown an asset to the whole community while the TIFA plan focuses largely on the retail area of west Houghton.

The Houghton County Board of Commissioners submitted a letter opposing the extension, saying the county will lose more $440,000 in 2016 to various DDA and TIFA districts, money which could be used for projects like a new jail.

The TIFA resolution was passed by the council but the DDA ordinance will be addressed at their next meeting.