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Houghton County adopts 2023–24 budget, authorizes transfer limits and notes $11.3 million general fund balance
Summary
The Houghton County Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted the 2023–24 General Appropriations Act on Sept. 21, approving the General Fund and special revenue budgets, authorizing limited administrative transfers and recording a General Fund balance of $11,319,135.
The Houghton County Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted Resolution No. 23-17 on Sept. 21, approving the county’s 2023–24 General Appropriations Act and setting budgets for the General Fund, special revenue funds and other proprietary funds for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2023 and ending Sept. 30, 2024.
County Administrator Ben Larson and finance staff member Becky Ylitalo told the board the 2022–23 fiscal year is expected to close in the black. Ylitalo reported the General Fund balance at $11,319,135 and a total surplus across all funds of $14,220,017; Larson noted a $7,000 surplus for the current week. Commissioner Glenn Anderson asked about MERS pension payments; Ylitalo said those payments remain on schedule.
The adopted appropriations act authorizes the County Administrator to make budget transfers in accordance with the board’s policy of up to 10 percent of departmental expenditures and allows the finance committee to recommend amendments provided the budget remains balanced. The resolution text emphasizes that appropriations limit spending for the fiscal year and that special revenue fund balances at year-end will be carried forward as initial allotments for the new fiscal year.
Administrator Larson also reported that the county’s cybersecurity vendor, Karhu, had been paid from ARPA funds previously; for 2023–24 the county will pay Karhu $57,000 from the General Fund and expects MMRA to reimburse roughly half of that amount back to the county. Larson said the 911 fund is reported separately from the general budget.
The roll-call vote on Resolution 23-17 was Yes: Anderson, Janssen, Tikkanen, Keranen, Britz (5). The county clerk certified the resolution for the record.
The board will consider personnel recommendations for the Prosecutor’s Office at a future meeting; Administrator Larson recommended returning to the board with a salary proposal and whether to recruit one attorney in lieu of two.
