Roles & Responsibilities
![]() In Michigan, if you don't live in a village or a city, then you live in a township. Have you ever wondered what the township government (your basic and most local form of government) does for you? Here’s a quick civics lesson:
Township government legally exists primarily to perform three overarching mandated functions assigned respectively to the Clerk, the Supervisor, and the Treasurer:
There are other, more narrow mandates which are also regulated by the state:
We are legally allowed to offer additional services and programs not mandated by the state but permitted by enabling legislation, referred to as “permissive activities.” Examples in Crystal Lake Township are:
Core Competencies for Elected Officials Although not dictated by state statute, Michigan Township Association (MTA) strongly emphasizes a basic level of competency for each of the board members. To date, CLT has not opted to adopt these, even as guidelines, but they are regularly referenced as helpful tools. ![]()
Click here for 10 interesting facts to make you smarter about Michigan's townships. |
![]() Statutory Duties for the
5 elected Board Members Clerk:
Treasurer:
Supervisor:
Trustees:
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