Following a court mandate, the County Board of Canvassers held the recount of the Sylvan Township millage ballots on Tuesday, Oct. 16, and there was no change in the final vote.
The 20-year, 4.4 mil tax levy was approved by voters, 480 votes to 473 votes, and residents will see this levy on their winter tax bills.
Following the primary election, Sylvan Township resident Janis L. Carr paid the $10 for the recount, and although it was scheduled for Sept. 4, the Board of Canvassers determined that because of a 2-inch gap between the ballot bag zippers, the recount could not take place.
Subsequently, Sylvan Township resident Patrick Zieske filed a motion in circuit court for a show cause hearing and the motion was granted by a judge on Oct. 3.
For previous coverage of this issue, click here.
Here’s what township voters approved: “Shall the limitation upon the total amount of general ad valorem taxes imposed upon real and tangible personal property for all purposes in any one year under the Michigan Constitution be increased in the Township of Sylvan, Washtenaw County, Michigan, by 4.40 mills (which is equal to $4.40 per $1,000 of taxable value of all such property) for a period of twenty (20) years, 2013 through 2032, inclusive, for the purpose of paying the Township’s $9,775,000.00 obligation to Washtenaw County and $1,213,000.00 to the Washtenaw County Treasurer? The amount of revenue the Township will collect if that millage is approved and levied by the Township in the first year is estimated to be $780,263.90. The proposed millage is a new additional millage, the revenue from which would be disbursed to the County of Washtenaw.”
