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Information
on Cityhood
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What
has been Completed
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| The Village formed a City Study Committee to investigate cityhood for the Village of Dexter. The City Study Committee reported back to the Village Council that pursuing cityhood was recommended. The Village contracted with OHM (an engineering firm which works with the Village) to complete an up to date and accurate survey of the current boundary of the Village. This boundary map was completed in December 2008. Petitions were circulated and 164 signatures were collected. The cityhood submittal was sent to the State Boundary Commission on November 6, 2009. The Boundary Commission discussed the petition at their meeting on February 11, 2010. Click here for a summary of the meeting. On March 9th, Village representatives met with Boundary Commission staff. A summary of that meeting can be viewed here. At their March 18th meeting, the Boundary Commission found the Village's petition legally insufficient. Village Council amended the proposed legal description for clarity and contiguity. New signatures were collected and the petition was mailed to the Boundary Commission on December 15, 2010. |
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What
is Next
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| The Boundary Commission will judge if the package of documents is acceptable and either approve or reject the package back to the Village. If they find it is acceptable, they will schedule a public hearing that will be held in the Village. |
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What
Happens Later
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| After the public hearing the Boundary Commission will decide whether or not the incorporation should move forward. If the Boundary Commission decides it should move forward, within 45 days any citizen can obtain signatures on a petition to call for a referendum on whether or not the Village should become a city. If no petition is filed, an election is held to elect a City Charter Commission. These people would then write the City Charter. Once the Charter is written, it is sent to the Governor's office for approval. If not approved, the Charter Commission works to fix the Charter and resubmits. Once approved, a Charter election is scheduled. An election is held on the Charter. If it passes, the Village becomes a City. If not, it goes back to the Charter Commission. |
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Questions
& Answers
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When
will I get to vote on whether the Village becomes a city?
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| There will be a number of opportunities. A vote will be held, 1) if a referendum happens once the Boundary Commission approves the package the Village submits, 2) to elect a Charter Commission, and 3) when the Charter is voted on to ultimately decide whether or not the Village should become a city. |
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What
are the "pros" of becoming a city?
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| The best source for information about becoming a city is the City Study Committee report. The report covers all aspects of the process and results in great detail. People often cite some of the following reasons as advantages to becoming a city: 1) Not paying township taxes, 2) Centralized government for the City with all elections, tax payments, etc., within the City, instead of some elections at the Township, and different polling places for people in each Township, and 3) More recognition from a state and county level since villages are still considered part of the townships, where cities are entities separate from townships. |
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What
are the "cons" of becoming a city?
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| Again, the best source for information about becoming a city is the City Study Committee report. The report covers all aspects of the process and results in great detail. People often cite some of the following reasons as disadvantages to becoming a city: 1) No representation at the Township and the loss of the ability to run for elected township office, as we would no longer be a part of the Township, 2) Fear of the loss of the small town feel of the Village of Dexter and the connotation of being a city instead of a village, and 3) added responsibility of a city running their own elections and doing their own assessing instead of the Townships doing these things for us. |
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How
much has been spent on the city process so far?
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| A little over $30,000 has been spent, with about $28,000 of this having been spent on the survey of the Village. Even if we do not become a city, this has value as all documents regarding the Village and its boundary, going back up to 150 years, have been reconciled. |
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How
much less would taxes be?
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| It depends on where you live and the value of your home. If you live in Scio Township, you would see a reduction of 1.5 mills, or $1.50 for every $1,000 of taxable value of your home. If you live in Webster Township, you would see a reduction of 3.5 mills, or $3.50 for every $1,000 of taxable value of your home. The difference is because Webster Township charges a higher tax rate than does Scio Township. It is estimated the total savings to taxpayers in the Village would be over $250,000 per year. More information is available in the City Study Committee report. |
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How
much more would elections and assessing cost?
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| The Village ran elections at one time and the cost depends on the number of elections. Typical estimates are about $10,000 a year. Assessing can be contracted and estimates are it would cost $30,000 to $50,000 a year. |