Dexter cityhood petition found 'legally insufficient' for 2nd time by State Boundary Commission
For the second time, the Village of Dexter's quest to become a city has hit a snag involving its proposed boundaries.
The State Boundary Commission ruled Thursday that the village's petition was "legally insufficient."
Two months ago, a decision on the petition was delayed for an opinion from the state Attorney General on the proposed boundaries.
At issue is whether land in the village's 425 Agreement to share tax revenues with Webster Township, including Gordon Hall, could be included in the proposed boundary.
"Though both the Attorney General and boundary commission staff agreed that the village’s petition was legally sufficient, the four boundary commissioners present voted to find the petition legally insufficient," village officials said in an update.
"The reasons for the no votes were not made completely clear, but involved continued confusion over the inclusion of the areas covered under the 425 Agreement and the threat of a circuit court challenge by Webster Township," the information states.
What to do next will be a topic of discussion at upcoming council meetings. The next meeting takes place Monday at 7:30 p.m. at the Senior Center.
For more Dexter stories, visit our Dexter page.
Comments
Mick52
Fri, Aug 19, 2011 : 3:47 p.m.
Thank you very much xmo for explaining Act 425. I was looking for that in the story since it seems to be a significant issue. I am wondering if the subdivision at Dexter Pinckney Rd and Island Lake was absorbed into the village in exchange for utility services like water, sewer and streets. In a class I took I did a study on Dexter's efforts to become a city and I believe that in the agreement to add the sub, Dexter agreed to payments to Webster Twp for a period of years if they became a city. So Webster predicted this and made a deal and now they are suing? If I am correct, it seems to me that Webster made a deal in the event of Dexter becoming a city and should abide by that agreement. I hope Dexter's quest does not get derailed. Take out the sub and the mansion and increase the utility fees in return for taxes the city of Dexter will not get and leave it up to the residents to seek annexation. I suppose it will depend on whose taxes are lower. Last time I checked people in the village are paying township taxes and village taxes and cityhood would drop the township tax from their bills. The question for a resident is what do you get for your tax dollars from each unit of govt?
xmo
Fri, Aug 19, 2011 : 12:25 p.m.
The purpose of Act 425 is to provide for a means for two local units of government to share tax revenues resulting from new or expanding development in the areas of their jurisdiction. Most typically a city and a nearby township are the parties to such an agreement. The agreement creates a temporary transfer of jurisdiction for the affected land rather than an outright annexation. The agreement defines the responsibilities that each party has with respect to the affected area. 425 Agreements can be effective for up to 50 years. At the end of the term of the agreement, the agreement itself defines what should happen to the affected land at the termination of the contract.