Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By JAN TUCKER
Ontonagon — The Ontonagon County Board Tuesday, adopted its 2020-2021 general fund operating budget and special revenue budgets. The general fund and other financing sources resulted in a budget of $3,791,986. According to the Ontonagon County Clerk Stacy Preiss, the number is just slightly over last years sum by about 3%. The special revenue budget includes funds such as the road commission, forestry fund, animal protection fund, court fund, SONCO Ambulance fund and similar funds and programs.
Also in accordance with the “Truth in Budgeting Act,” the board authorized the levying of millage on ad valorem property taxes, 6.52 for general fund operation, 5 mills for county road fund, snow removal and road construction, 1.25 mills for SONCO Ambulance, 1 mill for public transit fund operation, 0.5 mill for Commission on Aging operation, .3 mill for Gogebic Ontonagon Community Action Agency and .15 mill for Ontonagon County Animal Protection.
The only comment during the hearing was from Pat Kitzman, who said the courts intended for the PILT funds to be spread between schools, townships and county. He said statements made by the county on the issue were misleading double talk. He said the county has made statements they wanted to share but refuse to even answer questions about the fund.
In other matters, the board:
—Authorized the winter tax levy.
—Approved an updated transit contract with Copper Country Mental Health.
—Will take bids on the Ontonagon County Sheriff’s 2010 Ford Expedition.
—Will take bids for snow plowing of the jail and ambulance garage.
—Reauthorized its formal declaration of a local State of Emergency.
—Agreed to send Floyd Rowley to veterans service officer training Sept. 20-26 to be funded with a Veterans Service Fund grant.
—Expressed opposition to the reappointment of Victoria Enyart to the Michigan Tax Tribunal.
—Approved the purchase of a printer for equalization director Ann Husar.
