FeedsTownships will stay, say supervisors
No more township governments in Michigan?
That’s one idea among several reportedly being discussed last week by House Democrats as they seek to cope with financial crisis in Michigan. House Speaker Andy Dillon was expected to reveal more details this week as part of a comprehensive plan to help the state budget.
Much attention has focused on a graduated income tax or a tax on utility giants DTE and Consumers Energy. Reports also suggest plans are afoot to abolish the township form of government.
It’s been suggested before: have counties or cities take over services that townships provide, such as police and fire.
Tom Yack, supervisor of Canton Township, laughed at the notion.
“I would say (legislators) don’t truly understand the relationship between townships and counties,” he said, “and I’m really speaking to the rural counties in Michigan, of which there are probably 70 of them. County government provides most of the services already.”
There are 1,242 townships in Michigan, most of them in rural areas. General law townships make up the majority of those, which means they are limited to 1 mill tax levies (a mill is $1 of tax per $1,000 of assessed value). That doesn’t pay for much, and most rural townships only need part-time fire departments. Many contract with a county sheriff for policing, road patrol and prisoner lockup.
Yack said he doubts merging rural township governments with a county or larger nearby city is a viable solution, even in part, to solving the state problems.
“It’s just not much money,” that the state would save, said Yack.
Southeast Michigan contains a handful of “urban” townships, including Canton and Plymouth Township, said Yack. These larger units operate more services that the county probably wouldn’t be able to duplicate as well. Canton Leisure Services is one of the largest recreation departments in Michigan.
Canton is a charter township, with the power to levy as many taxes as voters will approve. Canton runs a full-service fire department and levies 8.85 mills to fund the $50 million budget.
Richard Reaume, supervisor of Plymouth Township, is doubtful the plan would happen, and if it did, that comunities like his would be affected.
“The urban townships will retain their integrity,” he pondered. He noted that half of state residents live in townships, which generally perform better than cities.
He said a better proposal would be for urban townships to absorb cities.
“The cities are in large financial straps. The townships are doing well,” he said.
Yack said he’d go one better.
“In Wayne County, what would make sense is to eliminate the county (government). That’s 8 mills and a lot of the services are duplicated,” he said.
Meanwhile, Gov. Jennifer Granholm has said state government may shut down if the crisis is not resolved. Rep. Marc Corriveau (D-Northville) said the situation is serious.
“It scares me anytime you talk about shutting down government,” he said. “Cooler heads must prevail here.”
Corriveau said the budget problems need to be solved immediately, but the House wants to complete its series of bills by the end of May at the very latest.
“We’re concentrating our efforts to get bills through,” he said.
Staff Writer Lester L. Holmes, Jr. contributed to this report.
