PORTAGE (WKZO-AM) — Members of the Portage City Council say they want the city to start spending its sizable surplus, which equates to roughly 24 percent of the city’s annual budget.
City Manager Lawrence Shaffer says the council already has some ideas on how to spend the cash, which mainly focus on the city’s capital improvement plan.
“To pick those items off of our capital improvement plan — accelerate them, bring them forward,” Shaffer said.
Shaffer said he wants to use some of that money to pay cash for things the city may usually purchase with credit, eliminating interest payments. He also wants to replace a damaged fire engine, and spend some money on roads.
“The good news is, it’s more than $2.4 million,” Shaffer said. “It’ll probably be somewhere in the $3.4 million range.”
Shaffer plans to call a special meeting in October to seek council consensus.
– John McNeill
