Nearly 10 mills in modeled annual savings
The final report's tax model removes 13.3627 Village mills and adds 3.3761 Township police mills—a net reduction of 9.9866 mills for property in the former Village.
A data-backed case for disincorporation
Keep Lake Orion.
End the extra layer.
Lake Orion can remain a place, a community and an identity while residents stop paying nearly 10 mills each year to maintain a separate Village government.
The August 2026 final report uses the current project tax, debt and transition assumptions documented in the study.
9.9866mills modeled
net reduction
net reduction
$999annual reduction per
$100,000 taxable value
$100,000 taxable value
95.2%of Village roads
rated poor
rated poor
Already sharedfire, EMS and
ambulance service
ambulance service
The final report at a glance
What would disincorporation mean for Lake Orion residents?
This one-page summary presents the central findings: the modeled tax savings, the functions that transfer, the services and community traditions that continue, and the treatment of existing debt.
The affirmative case
Pay for services—not a second layer of government.
The central question is simple: does a separate municipal structure provide enough additional value to justify its recurring cost? The study’s modeled answer is no.
One government instead of two
Village residents already live in Orion Township, vote in Township elections and pay Township taxes. Disincorporation ends the cost of maintaining a second municipal structure.
Core services continue
Fire, EMS and ambulance service already operate Township-wide. Water, sewer, roads, parks, public safety and downtown obligations continue under a documented transition.
Lake Orion remains Lake Orion
A government dissolves—not the lake, downtown, schools, neighborhoods, traditions or community identity. The place and the people continue.
What it means for your property
Put the modeled tax reduction in household terms.
Enter your taxable value—not market value—to estimate the report’s annual property-tax reduction at 9.9866 mills.
Village mills removed13.3627
−Township police mills added3.3761
=Modeled net reduction9.9866
$
$50k$500k
Modeled annual reduction$1,498about $125 per month
Estimate uses the report's 9.9866-mill net reduction. It does not include utility bills, special assessments or changes outside the model.
Read the evidence
The complete report is part of this site.
The August 2026 final report combines the executive report, ten supporting reports, a resident summary, and primary-source and final-report notes.
- Tax impact and police funding
- Debt, DDA, utilities and assets
- Roads, services and transition risks
DISINCORPORATIONVillage of Lake Orion, MichiganFinancial, Service, Governmental and Community AnalysisOPEN ALL 34 PAGES
Services after disincorporation
The work continues. The structure changes.
Disincorporation is not a promise that every cost disappears. It is a decision to deliver necessary services without maintaining a separate Village government.
Fire, EMS & ambulance
Already provided throughout the Village by Orion Township; no new emergency-service system is needed.
Police
The Village department would end. Orion Township would become responsible for policing the former Village area through its successor model.
Water & sewer
The systems, customer bills, capital work and lawful debt continue. Township becomes the responsible municipality.
Downtown & DDA
The report's working model continues the DDA under Orion Township, with its plan, revenue, contracts and debt carried forward.
Roads & sidewalks
The need for repair is inherited. Consolidation changes responsibility; it does not make paving costs disappear.
Permits & inspections
The Township already supplies building permits and inspections by contract, so this transition is comparatively small.
Straight answers
A strong “yes” case can acknowledge the tradeoffs.
The report tests the best arguments against disincorporation and still concludes the recurring savings and simpler structure have merit.
Does every cost and debt disappear?+
No. Water and sewer obligations, DDA bonds, restricted funds, capital needs and lawful liabilities follow their purposes. The savings case rests on eliminating Village-specific government cost—not pretending every obligation vanishes.
Would Lake Orion lose its identity?+
No. The name, downtown, lake, neighborhoods, schools, organizations and traditions remain. Disincorporation changes the municipal corporation, not the community.
What local control changes?+
The Village Council and Village-only offices end, and Township institutions make municipal decisions. That is a real tradeoff. Residents gain one government with a broader tax base and one place to hold accountable.
What happens to roads?+
The report finds 95.2% of the Village network in poor condition. That deterioration is inherited—it is neither caused nor cured by disincorporation. A successor still needs a transparent repair and funding plan.
What supports the savings figure?+
The final report uses the current project tax model: 13.3627 Village mills removed, 3.3761 Township police mills added, for a 9.9866-mill net reduction. If later certified tax data supersede those figures, the calculations should be updated consistently.
Read it for yourself
The case is grounded in public records.
Start with the complete study, then follow the underlying law, audit, infrastructure and service sources.
Complete study
Impact of Disincorporation — Final Report, August 2026
Open source State lawMichigan MCL 74.18a
Open source Village finances2025 audited financial statements
Open source Road conditionsVillage streets and pavement plan
Open source Township servicesOrion Township departments
Open source Public recordsVillage document library
Open sourceAdvocacy disclosure: This site supports Village disincorporation. It is not an official communication of the Village of Lake Orion, Orion Township or Oakland County. The final report is a public-policy and financial analysis, not a bond-counsel opinion.
Study dated August 2026