Other Programs and Services

Townships commonly operate cemeteries, parks and recreation programs, and fund senior citizen programs. They may also regulate or provide services to remove trash and recycle materials, and provide municipal water and/or wastewater treatment systems. They market the agricultural, commercial and industrial opportunities that are available within the township and in the surrounding area.

Cities, and to a lesser extent villages, are intended to have the taxation authority and statutory flexibility to provide a portfolio of services that are restricted only by state and federal prohibitions. Counties and townships, on the other hand, also provide a broad range of services, but within constraints of functions that are either expressly provided for or implied in state law. Counties provide a number of services that are local extension of state functions, such as courts, equalization of local government assessing, community health and social services.