City Of Houghton Passes Budget

The 2017-2018 budget for the city of Houghton is now approved.

The Houghton City Council adopted the budget, along with the Capital Improvement Plan, Public Participation Plan and amendments to the property maintenance code.

The overall $12 million budget on paper shows a deficit of more than $112,000 in the general fund, but City Manager Eric Waara explained the city has a surplus from the previous budget to cover it.

Waara said the city approached this budget slightly differently than budgets in years past, where they would add numerous projects throughout the year as funds would allow.

This year, the city included many such possible projects–but the end result would be the same–the extra work will be covered by the surplus.

Houghton Councilmember John Sullivan suggested that information be included in the future so it does not appear that there actually is a deficit.