May 17, 2007, Introduced by Rep. Condino and referred to the Committee on Intergovernmental, Urban and Regional Affairs.
A bill to require that certain services provided by certain
township or charter township officials be provided by certain
county officials; to impose duties on certain county, township, and
charter township officials; and to provide for reimbursement to the
counties for certain services provided to the township or charter
township.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the
"township services consolidation act".
Sec. 3. As used in this act, "rural township" means a township
or charter township in existence on the effective date of this act
that meets either of the following criteria as determined by the
department of treasury:
(a) Has a population of less than 10,000.
(b) Has a population of 10,000 or more but less than 20,000
and does not provide for and make available fire, police on a 24-
hour basis either through contracting for or directly employing
personnel, water to 50% or more of its residents, and sewer
services to 50% or more of its residents.
Sec. 5. (1) After December 31, 2008, the clerk of a rural
township shall no longer conduct elections. Elections held in a
rural township shall be conducted by the county clerk of the county
where the rural township is located.
(2) The clerk of a rural township shall provide to the county
clerk any documents and information necessary to allow the county
clerk to conduct elections for the rural township.
(3) After December 31, 2008, if the clerk of a rural township
is required or has agreed to conduct school elections under the
Michigan election law, 1954 PA 116, MCL 168.1 to 168.992, the
county clerk shall conduct those school elections for the clerk of
the rural township.
(4) A county clerk who conducts elections for a rural township
pursuant to this act shall comply with the provisions of the
Michigan election law, 1954 PA 116, MCL 168.1 to 168.992.
(5) A rural township shall pay to the county that conducts a
regular or special election for the rural township an amount
determined in accordance with this section.
(6) If a rural township's regular or special election is held
in conjunction with another election conducted by the county, the
rural township shall pay the county 100% of the actual additional
costs attributable to conducting the rural township's regular or
special election. If a rural township's regular or special election
is not held in conjunction with another election conducted by the
county, the rural township shall pay the county 100% of the actual
costs of conducting the rural township's regular or special
election.
(7) The county shall present to the rural township a verified
account of actual costs of conducting the rural township's regular
or special election not later than 84 days after the date of the
election. The rural township shall pay or disapprove all or a
portion of the verified account within 28 days after the rural
township receives a verified account of actual costs under this
subsection.
(8) If the rural township disapproves all or a portion of a
verified account of actual costs under subsection (7), the rural
township shall send a notice of disapproval along with the reasons
for the disapproval to the county. Upon request of the county whose
verified account or portion of a verified account was disapproved
under this section, the rural township shall review the disapproved
costs with the county.
(9) If the county and the rural township cannot agree on the
actual costs of an election as prescribed by this section, the
secretary of state shall determine those actual costs.
Sec. 7. (1) After December 31, 2008, the treasurer of a rural
township shall no longer collect taxes and the supervisor of a
rural township shall no longer assess property for the rural
township. Taxes for a rural township shall be collected by the
county treasurer of the county where the rural township is located.
Property shall be assessed by the county equalization department of
the county where the rural township is located.
(2) The treasurer, supervisor, assessor, or other assessing
officer of a rural township shall provide to the county treasurer
and to the county equalization department any documents and
information necessary to allow the county treasurer to collect
taxes for the rural township and the county equalization department
to assess property for the rural township.
(3) A county treasurer who collects taxes for a rural township
and a county equalization department that assesses property for a
rural township pursuant to this act shall comply with the
provisions of the general property tax act, 1893 PA 206, MCL 211.1
to 211.155.
(4) If a rural township has authorized a property tax
administration fee under section 44 of the general property tax
act, 1893 PA 206, MCL 211.44, the county may retain that portion of
the property tax administration fee equal to the actual costs the
county incurs in collecting taxes and assessing property for the
rural township. If a rural township has not authorized a property
tax administration fee under section 44 of the general property tax
act, 1893 PA 206, MCL 211.44, or if the amount retained is less
than the actual costs incurred, the county shall present to the
rural township a verified account of actual costs of collecting
taxes and assessing property not later than 84 days after the date
of the return of delinquent taxes under section 56 of the general
property tax act, 1893 PA 206, MCL 211.56. The rural township shall
pay or disapprove all or a portion of the verified account within
28 days after the rural township receives a verified account of
actual costs under this subsection. If the rural township
disapproves all or a portion of a verified account of actual costs
under this subsection, the rural township shall send a notice of
disapproval along with the reasons for the disapproval to the
county. Upon request of the county whose verified account or
portion of a verified account was disapproved under this
subsection, the rural township shall review the disapproved costs
with the county. If the county and the rural township cannot agree
on the actual costs incurred, the department of treasury shall
determine those costs.
Sec. 9. Except as otherwise provided in this act, a rural
township shall retain the same powers, duties, and functions that
the township or charter township currently has under either 1846 RS
16, MCL 41.1a to 41.110c, or the charter township act, 1947 PA 359,
MCL 42.1 to 42.34.
Enacting section 1. This act does not take effect unless all
of the following bills of the 94th Legislature are enacted into
law:
(a) Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 4781(request no.
02329'07 a).
(b) Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 4782(request no.
02329'07 b).
(c) Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 4783(request no.
02329'07 c).
(d) Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 4784(request no.
02329'07 d).
(e) Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 4785(request no.
02329'07 e).
(f) Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 4786(request no.
02329'07 f).
(g) Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 4787(request no.
02329'07 g).
(h) Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 4788(request no.
02329'07 h).