Big Change for Houghton County Sheriff’s Dept.

The Houghton County Sheriff’s Department will no longer be getting their 2% cost-of-living increase. That’s according to the Houghton County Board of Commissioners, who are writing the check for $84,000 to the Municipal Employees Retirement System for that single benefit, but are looking to end that because it doesn’t fit within the county’s budget. Board chairman Scott Ala says the 2% rider has been locked-in for a while now and increased by $10,000 just this past year, and will continue to increase.

The board was in overall agreement on the subject, however Commissioner Al Koskela was not present for last night’s meeting.