Houghton City Council Passes Budget–Recap From June 8th Meeting

Tax revenues for the city of Houghton are up, meaning there’s a bit more money in their new budget.

The City Council passed the 2016-17 budget at their regular meeting Wednesday.

The budget covers roughly $8 million in total with about $3.5 million in the General Fund.

City Manager Eric Waara said the adjusted taxable value increased about two percent due to about $4 million in commercial construction and almost $2 million in residential construction.

The council also passed the city’s Capital Improvement Plan, which outlines possible projects that the city might undertake over the next six years.

Though this plan doesn’t guarantee that these projects will happen, it does provide a road map for the city when applying for grants and allocating funds.

Included in the plan for next year are various water and sewer improvements and repairs to the large parking deck, as well as a Kids Fountain Park at Kestner Waterfront Park.

The council approved the bid from Payne & Dolan, Inc for the 2016 Paving Projects for more than $600,000.

Waara said the bid came in low enough to include all additive alternates and still have most of the project covered by the construction dollars from the USDA, with the remaining amount coming from the budget.

The project covers parts of Razorback Drive, Sharon Avenue and Seventh Avenue.

A separate project to replace the sewer near the courthouse was awarded to Portage Lake Construction for just over $155,000.

This project also includes the repaving of Dodge Street from the courthouse up to Sharon Avenue.

Public Hearings were set for June 22nd for adjusting the city dumpster rates and city bag charges as part of the new trash and recycling service.

Rental Housing Board hearings for 227 Hubbell Street and 301 Vivian Street were set for July 13th.