1) The Trustees propose to amend the charter so that the annual Village budget is adopted at the March meeting rather than the May meeting each year. This is necessary because the State of Michigan now requires the new budget to be in place before the end of the fiscal year, which for BHV is March 31.
2) Since the budget adoption date is moved back, the initial introduction of the proposed budget must be moved back from March to January.
3) The Trustees also propose to move the date that BHV annual property tax payments are due from August 31 to September 14. This is the same date that Ann Arbor Township taxes are due so it would reduce confusion by making both tax due dates the same.
Following is the text of the Trustees’ resolution, stating the complete language of the charter sections and the changes proposed. The resolution has been submitted to Governor Snyder. If the Governor approves, the proposed changes will be put to a vote of the residents at the November 4, 2014 election. The questions as they will appear on the ballot are included in the text below.
Pursuant to the Home Rule Village Act, the Board of Trustees proposes to amend charter sections 7.2, 7.4 and 8.8 to read as follows:
Section 7.2. Budget Procedure. The President of the Village shall prepare a complete program for Village operations and a complete itemized budget proposal for each fiscal year. Such budget shall be submitted to the Village Board of Trustees at its first regular meeting in March January of each year. The budget document shall present a complete financial plan for the ensuing fiscal year. It shall include at least the following information:
(a) Detailed estimates of all proposed expenditures for each department and office of the Village showing the expenditures for corresponding items for the current and last preceding fiscal year, including contingent, miscellaneous or other similar fund expenditures, with reasons for increases and decreases recommended, as compared with appropriations for the preceding year.
(b) Statements of the bonded and other indebtedness of the Village showing the debt redemption and interest requirement, the debt authorized and unissued, and the condition of the sinking funds, if any.
(c) Detailed estimates of all anticipated income of the Village from sources other than taxes and borrowing, with a comparative statement of the amounts received by the Village from each of the same or similar sources for the last preceding and current fiscal year.
(d) A statement of the estimated balance or deficit, as the case may be, for the end of the current fiscal year.
(e) An estimate of the amount of money to be raised from current and delinquent taxes and the amount to be raised from bond issues which, together with income from other sources, will be necessary to meet the proposed expenditures and commitments of the Village during the ensuing fiscal year.
(f) Such other supporting schedules as the Board may deem necessary.
Section 7.4. Adoption of Budget. In May March of each year, the Board of Trustees shall, by resolution, adopt the budget for the current fiscal year and shall, in such resolution, make an appropriation of the money needed for Village purposes during the current fiscal year and shall provide for a tax levy in the amount necessary to be raised by taxes upon real and personal property in the Village for Village purposes, which levy shall not exceed two (2%) percent of the assessed value of all real and personal property subject to taxation in the Village, which levy the said Board of Trustees is hereby authorized to make in accordance with law. The Board of Trustees shall have the power to revise the proposed budget prior to adoption of the final Village budget before or after the public hearing on the budget, in such manner as it shall deem appropriate. The budget as adopted shall be available for inspection by the public at the Office of the Village Clerk.
Section 8.8. Collection of Village Taxes. Village taxes shall be due and payable on the first day of July of each year and may be paid at the Office of the Village Treasurer during regular business hours until and including August 31 September 14. To all taxes paid after August 31 September 14,there shall be added a four (4%) percent penalty, and to all taxes paid after August 31 September 14, there shall also be added interest at the rate of one-half (1/2) of one (1%) percent for each month or fraction of a month intervening between August 31 September 14 and the date of payment. The added penalties and interest herein provided shall belong to the Village and shall constitute a charge and shall be a lien against the property to which the taxes themselves apply, collectible in the same manner as the taxes to which they are added.
The proposed charter amendments shall be submitted to the voters in the following ballot questions at the November 4, 2014 election.
SAMPLE BALLOT QUESTIONS
1. Shall section 7.2 of the Barton Hills Village charter be amended to provide that the Village President shall submit the fiscal year budget proposal to the Board of Trustees at the first regular meeting in January?
Yes ☐ No ☐
2. Shall section 7.4 of the Barton Hills Village charter be amended to provide that the Village budget shall be adopted in March of each year?
Yes ☐ No ☐
3. Shall section 8.8 of the Barton Hills Village charter be amended to provide that village taxes may be paid without penalty or interest if paid by September 14 of each year?
Yes ☐ No ☐
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BHV NOVEMBER 2014 ELECTION When Barton Hills became a village in 1973 the election date was set for May of each year. However, in compliance with the federal Help America Vote Act 2002 (passed in response to the serious voting issues of the 2000 Presidential election), the State of Michigan has made a number of election law changes. Besides establishing the statewide Qualified Voter File (which links voter registration to driver’s licenses) they limited the days available for elections to be held and offered villages two choices: November on the general ballot or September on a local ballot. In 2004 the BHV annual May election was moved to the odd year September date that would allow the Village to continue to conduct its own election just for the Board of Trustees seats.
Continuing their efforts to improve the integrity and security of the election process, the State significantly increased the certification requirements for those who conduct elections, and consolidated some elections, seeking to have fewer election days with highly trained people in charge of the overall voting process. School elections were moved to township administration and this year village elections were also reassigned. So instead of BHV conducting its own election last September, residents will vote on BHV seats/propositions this coming November at the general election. At the same time and place they are choosing a state governor, BHV voters will also be choosing village trustees.
While it is a little sad that a BHV tradition is ending there are a number of advantages in this change:
–BHV voters will go to the same polling location (Ann Arbor Township Hall) for all elections.
–The increasingly complex paperwork will all be handled by the very competent township election officials, who conduct several elections each year, rather than by Village workers who have to play catch up every other year.
–Costs will be reduced as BHV will share the expense of election workers, public notices, forms and equipment.
–Paperwork necessary for voter registration, candidate filings, absentee ballots, etc. will be handled by the township and questions can be directed to people who know the most current and correct answers.
It is still absolutely essential that Barton Hills Village residents
participate in and sustain self-government by voting!
Four seats on the BHV Board of Trustees and three charter amendment questions will be decided by BHV voters on November 4. While some things will change, many things will stay the same. Candidates for the office of Trustee will still need BHV resident signatures on nominating petitions. Future issues of the Barton Bulletin and postings on the BHV website will feature candidate biographies, instructions on how to obtain an absentee ballot and where to find sample ballots. The residents will continue to provide the support and effort necessary to keep Barton Hills Village running smoothly.