MANCHESTER, MI -- The Village of Manchester is eyeing cityhood, a move that would give the community independence from Manchester Township, but the process could take years to complete.

Township officials argue the move would cost residents more than they might realize.

A citizen’s advisory commission in July released a report on the advantages and disadvantages of incorporation, concluding that there are more benefits than drawbacks to becoming a city.

The most significant benefit of cityhood would be cutting duplication of government services, Village President Patricia Vailliencourt said. The village and township currently have several duplicate services and positions, like road maintenance, clerks and treasurers.

In Michigan, the two primary units of government are cities and townships. A village is a sub-unit of a township. The village provides some services, such as public safety or road construction, but the township by law must assess land, collect taxes and administer elections. Townships often administer more services because they have a larger tax base and legal responsibility.

Manchester Township officials disagree with the village’s analysis.

A report presented to the township argues the costs to residents would be higher if Manchester became a city. Election administration and vote tabulation machines are not a one-time payment, the Manchester Township report notes. It also points out that a city would need a new contract for fire service, which is currently provided by Manchester Township. The village analysis assumes a contract would cost the same, according to its report.

“We feel that what’s in the best interest of our community -- it’s not in the best interest for the village to become a city,” Manchester Township Supervisor Gene DeRossett said. “Division and disruption in the community is going to be expensive both ways. I think overall, it’s going to impact the community that we know as Manchester.”

Vailliencourt said Manchester has considered independence from Manchester Township on and off for decades. The idea resurfaced in February 2017, when Manchester Township began investigating options to get fiber optic broadband service to everyone in the township. Most of the village already has broadband through Comcast.

“The needs of the village are very, very different than the needs of the township,” Vailliencourt said, “and this is a good example of it.”

Manchester Township found it would cost $10.75 million to install broadband throughout the township, according to a 2018 feasibility report. Village officials noticed residents may have to pay taxes for a service they already have, Vailliencourt said.

City incorporation was on the table again.

Manchester Township proposed an alternative to cityhood in its report: village-township consolidation. That, the report says, is the only way to ensure there is total elimination of government duplication. Vailliencourt, however, said Manchester hasn’t received a proposal for that idea.

Dexter completed its bid to become a city in 2014. Residents there started seriously inquiring about the move in 2006, and the process of gaining the required approvals took eight years, according to Dexter’s website.

Manchester’s next village council meeting is Monday at 8 p.m. The council may vote to proceed with a three-to-five year city incorporation process, starting with a boundary survey and a petition to voters. Five percent of village registered voters must sign the petition to initiate a cityhood plan.