Voters in a small western Michigan village have rejected a proposal to allow their local government to create a mechanism by which the village can disincorporate.
The Grand Rapids Press reports unofficial results show the divisive ballot measure in Spring Lake failed Tuesday, with 63 percent rejecting the measure.
If approved, the village of about 3,200 people could have started what would be a lengthy process of eliminating all village taxes and discontinuing some local services.
Village Manager Chris Burns, an opponent of the idea of disincorporation, said she was relieved that the fight was finally over.
Supporters of the proposal argued that the local government has grown too powerful. They said that residents pay an unnecessary "double tax" that underwrites salaries of village administrators.
