Flint Township, Michigan – For nearly two centuries, Flint Township has carried a name tied closely to its larger neighbor. This fall, residents will decide whether that connection should finally be broken.
The choice will appear on the November 3, 2026, General Election ballot: keep the name Flint Township or replace it with Oak Hills Township, a name that supporters believe could give the community a clearer identity of its own.
The Flint Township Board of Trustees voted 5-4 Monday night to send the proposal to voters. A majority vote in November would authorize the Genesee County charter township to adopt the new name under Michigan law.
The decision revives a debate that gained momentum four years ago. A 2022 survey of township residents and businesses found that roughly 64% to 67% of respondents supported changing the name. Oak Hills was the leading choice among several possibilities, including Bishop, Garland, Rolling Oaks, West Haven and Westwood Valley.
Despite that support, township officials did not place the issue on the 2022 ballot. Trustees voted 4-2 against holding even a non-binding advisory vote. At the time, opponents pointed to an estimated rebranding cost of at least $72,000, covering changes to police and fire uniforms, emergency vehicles, public buildings and other township materials. They argued that public safety spending deserved greater priority.
Supporters, however, have continued pressing the case for a new name. They say the use of “Flint” creates confusion because the township and the City of Flint are separate governments. Flint Township maintains its own identity and water system, despite bordering the city on several sides.
Business owners and real estate professionals have also argued that the shared name can make it harder to market the township to prospective residents and investors. Those concerns became more pronounced following the City of Flint’s water crisis, even though the township was not part of the city’s water system.
A legal route for the change became available in 2021, when Michigan lawmakers approved legislation allowing townships to rename themselves. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed the measure into law. The process requires township board authorization followed by majority approval from voters during an August or November election. Once adopted, a township’s new name must remain in place for at least 25 years.
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Organized in 1836, Flint Township covers about 23.6 square miles and has approximately 31,000 residents. It includes major commercial corridors and areas surrounding Bishop International Airport.
Detailed rebranding costs and a complete implementation schedule have not yet been released. Those questions are likely to become central as the campaign develops, with voters weighing the price of changing signs, vehicles and documents against the potential value of a new public identity.
Four years after residents were surveyed but denied a ballot question, the final decision now belongs to them.