LEGAL BASIS

Primary Law Governing Townships:

• Michigan Township Act 359 of 1947 (a/k/a the Charter Township Act)

• Michigan General Law Village Act (for some hybrid areas)

• Michigan Election Law – Act 116 of 1954

Types of Townships:

1. General Law Township – default type; limited home rule.

2. Charter Township – more powers; can prevent annexation by cities.

Every Michigan county is divided into townships unless incorporated into cities.

​

​

OUTLINE OF TOWNSHIP GOVERNANCE IN MICHIGAN

​

1. Structure of Township Government

Each township has an elected township board typically consisting of:

• Supervisor (chief executive & sometimes assessor)

• Clerk (elections, records, notices, meeting minutes)

• Treasurer (collects taxes, handles money)

• 2 to 4 Trustees (vote on policies, support governance)

Charter Townships may also have additional appointed or elected officials and planning commissions.

​

2. Elections & Terms of Office

• Election Timing: Every even-numbered year in August and November (per MCL 168.641)

• Terms: Most township officials serve 4-year terms

  • Elected at November general election in presidential years

• Non-partisan Ballot: Township elections are partisan unless a local charter specifies otherwise.

Vacancies are filled by township board appointment until the next election (MCL 168.370).

​

3. Township Duties and Responsibilities

• Local Ordinances (zoning, noise, building)

• Roads (in cooperation with county road commission)

• Fire and Police Protection

• Elections and Voting Administration

• Tax Assessment and Collection

• Land Use Planning (via Planning Commissions)

• Cemetery & Park Maintenance

• Water & Sewer (if applicable)

Townships operate with limited home rule unless they adopt a charter form.

​

4. Charter Township Distinction

• Prevents annexation from cities

• More administrative powers

• May hire a manager to run day-to-day operations

• Must meet population, infrastructure, and service benchmarks to qualify

See MCL 42.1 – 42.34 for the full Charter Township Act

​

5. Funding & Budgeting

• Primarily through property taxes

• Can levy additional millages, if approved by voters

• Some receive state revenue sharing

• Required to prepare and adopt an annual budget

​​

6. Oversight and Transparency

• Must follow Open Meetings Act (OMA) and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

• Must hold public meetings and publish meeting minutes

• Required to hold budget hearings annually

​

MACOMB COUNTY AND CITY COUNCIL ROLES

Note: Cities and townships are different legal entities. City councils are city-level, not township-level.

​

How Macomb County Deals with City Councils (Separately from Townships)

• Macomb County contains 27 municipalities, including townships, cities, and villages.

• Each city council (e.g., Sterling Heights, Warren) operates independently of Macomb County government.

• The Macomb County Board of Commissioners is the county's legislative body, overseeing:

  • County budget

  • County roads and public services

  • County-wide departments (Sheriff, Prosecutor, Clerk, etc.)

• City Councils manage internal city operations: ordinances, zoning, police/fire, budgets.

• County has no authority over how cities run their council, only interaction is via services or elections.

​

KEY LEGAL REFERENCES

• Township General Law: MCL 41.1a et seq.

• Charter Townships: MCL 42.1–42.34

• Election Law: MCL 168.1 et seq.

• Open Meetings Act: MCL 15.261–15.275

• FOIA: MCL 15.231–15.246