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Charter Revision Commission approves sending revised Big Rapids charter to Michigan Attorney General; outreach planned
Summary
The Big Rapids Charter Revision Commission voted to submit a cleaned-up version of its revised charter to the Michigan Attorney General and governor for approval, discussed election timing and effective dates, and mapped a public-engagement plan including focus groups, postcards and yard signs ahead of possible August or November 2026 ballot placement.
The Big Rapids Charter Revision Commission voted on Jan. 14 to submit its revised city charter to the Michigan Attorney General and the governor for review and approval, and discussed next steps for placing the measure on a ballot in 2026.
Commission members agreed they will deliver a clean copy—free of tracked changes and editorial comments—to the Attorney General’s office and await the office’s letter before asking the City Commission to pass a resolution to put the charter before voters. The commission was warned the pre-election ballot-language certification deadline of May 12 could make aiming for an Aug. 4, 2026 primary ballot difficult if state turnaround is slow; the Nov. 3, 2026 general election remains the fallback option. The commission also discussed charter language that sets an effective date for the measure if approved by electors, noting examples in the draft such as Jan. 12, 2027.
Why this matters: approving the submission starts the formal state review and sets the clock for local steps required to reach voters. The commission also set a…
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