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Spring Lake Village disincorporation vote set for Tuesday

Spring Lake Village residents Tuesday are heading to the polls to vote on whether or not the village should disincorporate, which could ultimately shut down government operations. If voters approve the measure, the Village could begin the process of dismantling the municipality while being absorbed into Spring Lake Township. 

The road to today’s vote effectively began in 2016, when Village President Joyce Hatton then campaigned on a “no more taxes” platform, with the promise of disincorporating the village. After winning the election by 42%, Hatton’s first order of business was to deliver on that promise. Hatton says the idea is justifiable, as Village residents pay double taxes.

“We pay just like we’re living in the township, and then on top of it, we pay 10 mills to run the village government,” Hatton said. “For heaven’s sakes, there is absolutely no reason that a village of 2300 people has an administrative payroll about the same size as the Township.”

While her supporters agree, not everyone is on board with the idea, particularly the Village’s municipal government. Spring Lake Village Manger Christine Burns, who will lose her job if voters approve the disincorporation, says those additional homeowner taxes go towards services that residents choose to pay for, such as 24-hour police protection, lighted walking trails, and snow removal.

“When you dismantle the municipality you lose local control. So if there is no form of government here anymore, the services go away when the taxes go away. And I don’t think Ms. Hatton wants to understand that, or can understand that,” Burns said. However voters decide, Burns says, Village officials are ready to put this behind them.

“It’s been a very long hard road to get to this point, so I guess we will see what Tuesday holds, but I will tell you it has been a huge drain on resources, not just cash but staff time and counsel time and we are ready to get back to the business of managing the village.”

The polls close tonight in Spring Lake Village at 8:00. 

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