Downriver Plaza Group v. Southgate

Plaintiffs, property owners in the City of Southgate, filed this action against Southgate because the city placed a charge for the operation and maintenance costs of the Southgate-Wyandotte Drainage District (swdd) on their 1987 and 1988 tax bills. Plaintiffs allege that the charges were illegal, and seek recovery of monies paid. The trial court ruled that the fees were valid, and denied recovery. The Court of Appeals re*658versed,1 and ordered Southgate to refund an estimated $1.7 million in collected fees. We granted leave in this case to resolve the following issues: (1) whether Southgate had…