Township Board Members
Township government is conducted by a township board consisting of either five or seven members, depending upon the desires of the inhabitants and whether or not the township has a population of over 5,000, over 3,000 unregistered electors or is a charter township. The officers of the board are designated supervisor, clerk, treasurer and trustee, with the trustees numbering either two or four. The township board may also serve in other specific capacities, such as a park or utility board. The term of office for all township officials is four years. The terms commence at 12 p.m. on November 20 following the November general election, provided the newly elected officials have qualified for office by that time. To qualify, a successful candidate must file any necessary bond and take an oath of office before the township clerk or other officer qualified to administer the oath, such as a county clerk, notary public or judge. Other township officers authorized to administer the oath are the deputy clerk, supervisor and deputy supervisor.
The supervisor, clerk, treasurer and trustee must take the oath of office before entering into the duties of their offices. (MCL 168.363) The deputy supervisor (MCL 41.61(2)), deputy clerk (MCL 41.69) and deputy treasurer (MCL 41.77) must take the oath after their appointment and before entering into office.
In addition, the township clerk (MCL 41.69) and the township treasurer (MCL 41.77) are required to be bonded.
Township Supervisor’s Statutory Duties
- Moderates board and annual meetings
- Chief assessing officer (if certified)
- Secretary to board of review
- Township’s legal agent
- Must maintain records of supervisor’s office
- Responsible for tax allocation board budget (if applicable)
- Develops township budget
- Appoints some commission members
- May call special meetings
- May appoint a deputy
Township Treasurer’s Statutory Duties
- Collects real and personal property taxes
- Keeps an account of township receipts (revenues) and expenditures
- Issues township checks
- Deposits township revenues in approved depositories
- Invests township funds in approved investment vehicles
- Collects delinquent personal property tax
- Responsible for jeopardy assessments in collecting property tax
- Collects mobile home specific tax
- Must appoint a deputy
- Must post a surety bond
Township Clerk’s Statutory Duties
- Maintains custody of all township records
- Maintains general ledger
- Prepares warrants for township checks
- Records and maintains township meeting minutes
- Keeps the township book of oaths
- Responsible for special meeting notices
- Publishes board meeting minutes (if taxable value is $72 million in 2008, annually indexed, or a charter township)
- Keeps voter registration file and conducts elections
- Keeps township ordin·ance book
- Prepares financial statements
- Delivers tax certificates to supervisor and county clerk by September 30
- Must appoint a deputy
- Must post a surety bond
Township Trustee’s Statutory Duties
- Township legislators, required to vote on all issues
- Responsible for township’s fiduciary health
- Other duties as assigned by board
