Government is often accused of perpetrating money grabs when it comes to the fees it charges, especially when it wants to raise them or create new ones.

Last week, Oxford Township went in the opposite direction .

The township board voted 7-0 to approve a new fee schedule, effective Jan. 1, for the review of proposed lot splits that reduces the amount applicants are charged by nearly $600.

Folks seeking lot splits must now pay the township $670, which includes nonrefundable fees of $120 for a zoning compliance review and $50 to cover administrative costs, plus $500 that’s placed in escrow to cover consultant reviews. Any unused amount paid into escrow is returned to the applicant.

Because of the board’s action, applicants no longer have to pay an additional $590 to have a three-member committee that oversees lot splits review their requests.

“This committee would determine whether it meets the ordinance,” explained township Supervisor Bill Dunn.

Prior to the township’s action, applicants had to pay a $295 fee to have this committee conduct a preliminary review of their request, plus an additional $295 for them to conduct a final review.

That’s because the committee members, who were all planning commissioners, were paid $95 per meeting with the exception of the chairperson, who earned $105 per meeting.

Dunn said the committee is unnecessary because “all they do is (determine) does it meet the ordinance and if it does, we just send it down to the county (for approval).”

“We have a planner that could do this,” the supervisor explained. “Eventually, we’re going to have him be the one that okays the lot split.”

The Ann Arbor-based Carlisle/Wortman Associates, Inc.is under contract as the township planner.

In order to eliminate the lot split committee, an ordinance amendment is required. Until that can happen, the board voted 7-0 to change its membership to include the three full-time township officials – Dunn, Clerk Curtis Wright and Treasurer Joe Ferrari – and a Carlisle/Wortman representative. Unlike township trustees and planning commissioners, the full-time officials do not receive any additional compensation for attending meetings or serving on committees.

Trustee Jack Curtis was pleased by the board’s action.

“That’s one of the fees that I’ve always complained about,” he said.