Hess v. Cannon Township

Because I find no constitutional or statutory authority for Cannon Township to expend funds to assist a neighboring township with a legal dispute, I respectfully dissent.

Townships have no inherent powers; rather, they ppssess only those limited powers conferred on them by the Legislature or by the Michigan Constitution. Howell Twp v Rooto Corp, 258 Mich App 470, 475; 670 NW2d 713 (2003). The powers granted to townships by the Constitution and by law only include those fairly implied and not prohibited by the Constitution. Id. at 475-476, citing Const 1963, art 7, § 34. Thus, for the…