Townships Eye Cityhood for More Control — and More Revenue

A recent WXYZ article, “Townships becoming cities? How a change in charters could impact local road funding” (Sept. 2025), describes how Michigan townships are struggling with deteriorating roads and limited control over repair budgets because county road commissions, not the townships, decide which roads get fixed. Some larger townships are now exploring cityhood to gain direct access to road millage funds and state revenue. The story notes a stark contrast at the border of Bloomfield Township and Birmingham, where Birmingham controls its own streets while Bloomfield must rely on the Oakland County Road Commission — a key example of why some officials are reconsidering township status. The article avoids the topic of the potential for lifting of tax caps if such a change is made in a township. Cities can impose certain local taxes or fees (e.g., utility franchise fees, municipal bonds, or income taxes in limited cases) that are not available to townships. They also gain broader borrowing authority for infrastructure projects. https://www.wxyz.com/news/voices/townships-becoming-cities-how-a-change-in-charters-could-impact-local-road-funding

Landmark Case on Foreclosures Goes to US Supreme Court

A case in Isabella County, Michigan, may redefine tax foreclosures nationwide. A family's decade-long fight over their home reached the U.S. Supreme Court. The $150K house was sold at auction for $76K to pay $2.2K in taxes. The county gave the estate only $73K. The future ruling could give homeowners across the U.S. fair compensation for surplus proceeds, protecting against losses from unpaid taxes and driving foreclosure reforms. See Detroit Free Press article here: https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2025/10/03/homeowner-home-foreclosure-auction-tax-sale-united-state-supreme-court/86496816007/