Voters approve proposal limiting city manager term to 10 years
Walled Lake voters approved a ballot proposal seeking to limit the city manager’s term to 10 years.
Residents approved a city charter amendment that prohibits an individual from serving as city manager for more than 10 years, including any time accrued as city manager before the charter amendment takes effect.
As a result of the proposal being approved, Walled Lake City Manager Dennis Whitt is out of a job immediately, leaving the city to pay out the remainder of his contract, which doesn’t expire until January 2025, and severance package, a total estimated at $750,000.
Whitt’s base salary is $160,000 per year. Earlier this year, the charter amendment was reviewed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel prior to submission to the voters, with both disapproving the initiatory proposal because it failed to comply with state law as determined by Nessel.
Other local ballot proposals
In South Lyon, voters approved a city charter amendment that defines a “quorum” as the majority of the seven-member city council, not the current three members. Over in Wixom, voters approved the renewal of the city’s municipal operating tax rate for an additional four years. The tax funds public safety, parks and recreation, public works, and other city government operations. The city’s current municipal operating tax rate is 3.5 mills ($3.50 per $1,000 taxable value). A house with a $300,000 taxable value would result in the homeowner paying $1,050 in taxes per year.