An increase of $11.5 million in total taxable value has improved the economic health of Ontonagon County. Between 2002 and 2003 the taxable value of real and personal property in the county increased by 6 percent, or from $169.5 million to $181 million. New construction accounted for 63 percent, about $7.5 million, of the new tax base.
This is great news to the county, which has had to cut expenditures in order to deal with Michigan's declining revenue sharing and the increased cost of health care. Recently, a $70,000 cut was made to the sheriff's department because of a decrease in grants. However, with the added tax base from a 6.52 mill property tax levy, that amount would be more than made up, creating new revenue of about $78,000.
—Marissa Benson
