HOUSTON, BC — The District of Houston faces a $1.2 million municipal budget shortfall thanks to the closure of Canfor’s sawmill here because the mill property is no longer considered an active enterprise making it possible to collect taxes based on its previous industrial assessment. And that could mean the District will dip into a budget stabilization reserve of $1.65 million set up in January 2023 for just such a situation. “A core priority of council is to minimize the financial impacts this assessment change has on residents while maintaining service levels for utilities, public safety and infrastructure maintenance,” the District said. The $1.2 million revenue gap represents approximately 20% of the District’s annual taxation income. The release indicated District staffers are looking at various options to deal with the revenue shortfall.