PORTAGE (WKZO-AM) — Portage has a problem most cities want.
Most cities in Michigan are struggling to pay the bills, and some are having trouble keeping the doors open. But Portage has an excess of just over $2 million, and they’re trying to figure out ways to spend it.
Tuesday night, they set the date for a special city council meeting to talk about the extra cash.
Larry Shaffer, the city manager for Portage, would like to fix a fire truck that was damaged in a collision. He would also like to use some to pay cash for things they might otherwise borrow to buy.
Council members want to put some in roads, however.
Mayor Pete Strazdas proposed the special meeting, which is set for Oct. 20 at 6 p.m.
“We cannot vote at the committee of the whole, so you’ll hear deliberations at the committee of the whole and we’ll take action in council chambers,” Strazdas said.
Most governments will put any extra cash into a rainy day fund, but Portage already has 24 percent of their annual budget in reserves, which the council says is more than enough.
– Anthony Pollreisz
