Bolt v. City of Lansing

*82Saad, P.J.

In this original action under Const 1963, art 9, § 32, plaintiff, a taxpayer by virtue of his ownership of real estate located in the City of Lansing, challenges the city’s storm water service charges as being a disguised tax. The question presented is whether Lansing may charge landowners for the cost of separating the storm water and sewage systems, and treating the storm water runoff, without submitting the question to the taxpayers for a vote. The answer is “yes” if the charge is a user fee; “no” if it is a tax.

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FACTS

The existing Lansing wastewater disposal system combines…