News Flash Home
The original item was published from 3/17/2015 4:02:00 PM to 3/18/2015 9:17:33 AM.

News Flash

News Releases

Posted on: March 17, 2015

[ARCHIVED] Governor Approves Charter Amendment Ballot Proposal / Clarification Provided by Attorney General

EAST LANSING, Mich. – The May 5, 2015 Special Statewide Election ballot language for the City of East Lansing’s proposed land sale charter amendment has been approved by the Michigan Governor’s Office with a clarification made by the Michigan Attorney General’s Office regarding the sale of park land and cemeteries.

Based on a decision of the Michigan Supreme Court, the Attorney General’s Office stated in a letter dated March 10, 2015, that the City of East Lansing’s charter requirement of a 3/5 voter approval for the sale of park land and cemeteries was automatically amended to a simple majority vote when the Home Rule City Act was changed in 1966. This means that, according to the Attorney General’s Office, the City currently has the authority to sell park land with a simple majority vote and that the ballot proposal, if approved, will have no new impact on the sale of park land.

The Attorney General’s Office felt that voters should be aware that the ballot proposal, if approved, will only impact other City-owned real property (excluding park land and cemeteries). It will change the 3/5 majority vote to a simple majority vote in line with the Home Rule City Act and will add an annual inflation adjustment to the current $4 per capita limitation, which will be tied to the consumer price index. The exact language that will be placed on the May 5, 2015 Special Statewide Election ballot is as follows:

“Shall Section 4.8 of the East Lansing Charter be amended to change the requirement for voter approval to sell certain real property from a three fifths (3/5) majority vote of the electors to a simple majority vote of the electors and add an annual inflation adjustment, tied to the consumer price index, to the current four dollar ($4) per capital dollar limitation to sell real property?”

Attorney General’s Office Letter (PDF)
Facebook Twitter Email

Other News in News Releases

East Lansing Winter Fest inside a snowglobe

Winter Fest is Coming Saturday, Dec. 9

Posted on: November 27, 2023
A fleet of police vehicles under a pink sunrise with the ELPD logo in the lower right corner

ELPD Investigating Fatal Crash

Posted on: October 11, 2023
Dialog: A Newsletter for East Lansing residents with a photo of trick-or-treaters on Grand River Ave

Dialog October 2023

Posted on: October 6, 2023
Happy Labor Day

City Office Closures for Labor Day

Posted on: August 31, 2023
Four Officers from the PEACE Team stand in front of MSU's Sparty statue

P.E.A.C.E. Team Progress Report

Posted on: June 8, 2023
News ELPD update

ELPD Update on Fatal Car Crash

Posted on: April 6, 2023

ELPD Investigates Fatal Car Accident

Posted on: April 5, 2023
News ELPD update

Update on ELPD Threat Investigation

Posted on: March 9, 2023
loved

Counseling Services Offered at ELHCC, ELPL

Posted on: February 24, 2023
watertap

Conserve Water Notice Has Been Lifted

Posted on: January 12, 2023
watertap

Conserve Water Notice Remains in Effect

Posted on: January 12, 2023