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Information on Cityhood What has been Completed 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. What is Next The Village Council
has amended the proposed legal description for clarity and contiguity.
New signatures are being gathered and the petition will need to be refiled. 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.
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.
When will I get to vote on whether the Village becomes a city? 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. What are the "pros" of becoming a city? 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. What are the "cons" of becoming a city? 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. 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. 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. 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.
Link
to City Study Committee Agendas & Minutes Page, which includes further
information. |