Houghton City Council meets

There will be no change to the Health Care Benefits for the employees of the city of Houghton.

The City Council voted unanimously to opt out of Senate Bill Number 7 which requires municipalities to cap medical benefit payouts to employees or require a 20 percent contribution.

The City of Houghton has already approved their health benefits package to employees which runs through next September.

City Manager Scott MacInnis pointed out that the requirements of the bill do not match up with the current revenue sharing restrictions on health care and time would be needed to sort it out.

Each year, local governments must vote to opt out of the benefit reduction.

The council will review the requirements of the bill and address the issue later in 2012.