For the Record

Stripping away townships' authority - May 2007

Michigan House Bills 4780-4788, now before the Intergovernmental - Urban & Regional Affairs Committee, would essentially terminate a form of local government that has existed in this state since 1787.

While this "consolidation" legislation is billed as a cost-saving measure, by moving services provided by rural townships to counties, we believe it could actually result in higher costs to taxpayers. At the end of the day, the same services must still be provided to citizens in those areas, whoever delivers them.

But there is more than money at stake here. Township governments are at the heart of their communities - local people involved in local government, fighting for local interests. Walk in any township office and you will find volunteers serving on zoning and planning boards, raising money for parks - all people willing to work hard and cooperate because they are invested in their townships.

Here in Oakland County, for example, determined township governments, with very little money behind them, successfully fought off what would have been one of the world's largest toxic waste facilities and an unnecessary landfill - two projects that had already been given a green light by the county and state. It was later determined that the sites, environmentally fragile, were inappropriate.

These bills, stripping away townships' authority, act to move government one step further away from the people it represents. It is unwarranted and arbitrary at best. One has to question why it targets townships under 20,000 in population. Here in Oakland County, we have very small cities that function very well.

Once again, government is looking to fix a problem that does not exist.

House Bills 4780-4788 could have other repercussions. Our township clerks are some of the most sophisticated, dedicated clerks in the country. In the last two years, despite big challenges including the implementation of the Help America Vote Act, they have handled elections with ongoing professionalism. Election costs could triple. Local township clerks make, for example, an estimated $25 per hour. Our cost to hire certified clerks on a freelance basis is about $75 an hour - for exactly the same service. In addition, local control adds a level of oversight and integrity to our elections.

Michigan is grappling with an $800 million deficit, but attacking local governments and their revenue sharing dollars is not the answer.

Township residents have neither asked for, nor deserve this unwarranted attack on local control and their local system of government. They have successfully advocated for citizens, provided high quality services at the lowest possible costs and are willing to fight on quality of life issues.

The bills can be viewed at www.michiganvotes.org. Contact your local legislator to let them know that you oppose this legislation and want to see the township form of government preserved in Michigan.

Ruth Johnson
Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds

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