Lodi Township Board Condemns County Tax Plan

The Lodi Township Board of Trustees condemned a county plan to increase property taxes without a vote of the public.

At its October meeting, the board considered a motion to support a plan that would see the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners vote to use Act 283 to increase the tax millage to raise revenue for county road projects,

Act 283, which allows for a county-wide tax millage increase of up to one mill, was passed in 1909.  Lodi Township’s Board adopted resolution that condemns the plan, stating that the people’s voice is not heard without a vote and that Lodi Township has used its own tax dollars for road improvement already.

The resolution was passed unanimously by the Board.

The other resolution that was passed at the meeting was the support of the proposed greenbelt expansion in Lodi Township. The greenbelt project is a land preservation project that currently protects almost 2,000 acres of farmland in Washtenaw County. While it currently extends into Lodi Township, the Ann Arbor based program is looking to extend its boundaries in the area, effectively “squaring off” the edges by adding seven additional sections to its domain.  Resolution 2011-011, which was passed unanimously by the board, will allow the greenbelt expansion in Lodi Township. 

In addition, the board will make known to the project that they would like to see eight other sections of Lodi Township added in the future. 

The board meets again Nov. 1 at 7:30 p.m.