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