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HISTORY In 1947, the state legislature created a special charter township status, which grants additional powers and stream-lined administration in order to provide greater protection against annexation of a township's land by cities and villages. As of 2001, there were 127 charter townships in Michigan. A township with a population of 2,000 or more may incorporate as a charter township and become a municipal corporation, which possess all the powers of a non-charter township in addition to those specified by the Charter Township Act of 1947. GOVERNMENT Legislative authority is exercised by a township board of 7 members composed of the supervisor, the township clerk, the township treasurer, and either 2 or 4 trustees who are eligible to vote in elections and are residents of the township. All members of the board serve 4 year terms. Charter townships may appoint either a township superintendent or township manager, who can be assigned responsibilities for managing township functions (this is comparable to cities that utilize a city manager to oversee the day-to-day operations of the city). Otherwise, Executive Authority lays with the Supervisor, and various committees. PRIVILEGES A charter township may establish a variety of municipal services, such as a police force, fire department, assessors and also acquire property. It may also borrow money and issue bonds, with the approval of a majority of township voting in an election. Similarly, a charter township cannot levy taxes without the approval of a majority of township voting in an election. This is one significant difference from home-rule municipalities, in which the municipal authority can levy taxes without specific approval from voters (of course, the authorities can be voted out of office in the next election). REQUIREMENTS A charter township is exempt from annexation from contiguous cities or villages providing that the township meets certain requirements:
However, the charter township may still be subject to annexation under certain conditions, such as for the purpose of eliminating isolated islands of township or by vote of a majority of the residents of a portion of township. EXTERNAL LINK |
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