Dexter Ciythood Proposal to Go Before Voters in May 2013

The question of whether the Village of Dexter should proceed with its application to become a home rule city will go before voters on May 7, 2013.

According to the Washtenaw County Clerk's Office, registered voters in Scio Township Precinct 1 and Webster Township Precincts 1 and 2 can participate in the special election.

Village President Shawn Keough said its not clear why the county decided to schedule the election for May rather than February.

"It is what it is. Frankly I'm a little disappointed that they chose the later date. I don't necessarily feel that they had a very good reason for choosing the later month," he said.

Currently, Dexter's cityhood ballot proposal is the only issue on the May ballot. If no county or state proposals are filed for the May election, the village will have to pay roughly $5,000 to conduct the election.

The Village of Dexter adopted a resolution declaring its intent to incorporate as the City of Dexter in May 2007 and it’s been a long process to this point, which has included several different city boundaries.

Keough said there are several reasons for becoming a city, chiefly that village residents would no longer be required to pay township taxes to Scio and Webster townships (the village boundaries are currently part of the townships); it would create a centralized government with all elections and tax payments conducted by the city; and the city would receive more recognition at the state and county level since villages are still considered part of townships.

Prior to the election, an information sheet outlining the pros and cons of becoming a city will be sent to village residents in the first quarter of 2013.

A complete history of Dexter's cityhood petition is available on the village's website, along with the city study committee report, boundary maps, and a FAQ section.