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Houghton County has authorized the collection of 2024 taxes based on the annual truth in the taxation report from the equalization department. Last night the Houghton County Board of Commissioners held the annual public hearing for truth in taxation before authorizing the collection of property taxes. Equalization Specialist Liz Anderson presented to department report to the commission sharing that the county will implement a Headlee override on the county’s 1,237,399,250 dollars taxable value.
“And if it is approved in the meeting tonight, the difference nets about a 5.1% increase in operating revenue from last year, or approximately $372,828.” – Liz Anderson, Equalization Specialist, Houghton County Equalization Department
Houghton County will move on to the next step in the county jail project. Houghton County has been working with the city of Houghton and Portage Township to annex a Sharon Avenue property that will become the future site of a new county jail and a potential site for a new courthouse or offices. The county has completed its purchase of the former First Apostolic Lutheran Church at 801 Sharon Avenue. To construct the new site Houghton County will need to seek a new millage for the construction, but also needed to move the lot into the county seat before moving ahead with any plans.
“All three attorneys agree with this language. They’ve agreed to this what’s before you now. So obviously there were some concerns as this is 6.2 acres leaving Portage Township and going into the city. But that is required for us to do operations there. So that’s the goal of it. It has been boundary surveyed. Again, it’s in the packet there, this is what I’ve been told by our attorney is that this petition if adopted by you, then it’s acted upon by the city and the township, and then it’s official. So just let you know what happens procedurally.” – Ben Larsen, County Administrator, Houghton County
Houghton County Sheriff Josh Saaranen at the previous monthly meetings has reported jail housing figures, often noting that the facility is full or near capacity at all times. The sheriff’s department, Commissioners Roy Britz, and Glenn Anderson, and other county stakeholders have formed a committee that will discuss the county’s needs for a future facility at the Sharon Avenue site as the project progresses. In addition to the new jail site, the county sheriff department and Copper Country Mental Health Services continue to work on developing better solutions for transporting mental health patients and creating new beds in the region.
