Still, the sheer size of combined communities could spread local road repairs and environmental cleanups over a broader tax base and keep down costs, Shelton concedes. State officials, he said, should mandate regional cooperatives, like Unigov, to ensure cost-cutting, greater community participation in urban revival and lower taxes. The Unigovernment of Indianapolis and 17 suburbs provides most public services and coordinates regional development for the area. Cities, villages and townships Michigan's Constitution recognizes counties and townships and allows the voluntary incorporation of cities and villages in more densely settled areas. Villagers also participate in township affairs, and are required to pay township taxes in addition to their village taxes and government.
Villages adopt local ordinances and provide services, such as police and fire protection.
The surrounding township assesses property, collects taxes and runs elections for villages. Michigan has more than 261 villages. Cities run independent of townships. City officials must provide their taxpayers basic state-required services, as well as services demanded by local residents. In addition to being responsible for assessing property and collecting taxes for themselves, schools and the county, cities register voters and run elections inside their community boundaries.