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This is the time of year when the Houghton County Board of Commissioners set the millage rate for 2016.
They did so at their regular meeting Tuesday, with an increase in the operating rate for the county of 0.0481 mills, yielding a total operating millage rate of 6.2710.
Equalization Director John Partanen explained during the Truth in Taxation hearing that the total rate is actually lower than last year, but doesn’t add up to a lot of savings.
The additional millage rate is expected to bring in an $16,619 more in revenue.
In other business, County Road Commissioner Kevin Harju gave his report to the board.
The cost of maintaining the roads this past winter was down resulting in a savings of about $200,000 over the previous year—though surprisingly it wasn’t because there was less snow.
Harju explained that there was actually more snowfall this year, with 288 inches over 272 inches the year before.
Lower fuel costs and that the majority of the snow came during a smaller window later in the year were the reasons for the decrease in expenses.
That money can be reinvested in summer road maintenance projects and possibly upgrading the county’s grader fleet.
As far as additional funding from the state for road maintenance–don’t hold your breath.
Despite passing legislation to increase gas taxes and taking $600 million from the general fund, full funding for road maintenance isn’t expected until 2021, and the recent crisis in Flint and the Detroit Public School bailout will make funding the roads in the meantime difficult.
