Sylvan Township millage passes by 7 votes to pay water and sewer debt

In a 480-473 vote with 37 percent of registered voter turnout, a 4.4-mill, 20-year tax passed in Tuesday’s primary election.

The tax will cost an additional $440 per year in taxes for a house with a taxable value of $100,000.

Township residents currently pay less than 1 mill in operational taxes.

The township is in debt for more than $13 million: $5 million for a water system, $7.5 million for a sewer system and $1.2 million for unpaid taxes the township owes to Washtenaw County.

In May the county picked up the township’s loan payments after it defaulted.

County officials put off serving the Sylvan Township board with a lawsuit for the payment owed to see if voters would approve a millage to pay off the difference. Had voters turned down the millage -- as they did previously -- the county would have had to pursue legal action against the township.