Kalamazoo Township Treasurer resigns after board request she be removed from office

Nearly a month after the Kalamazoo Township Board of Trustees petitioned the Governor to remove its treasurer, she decided to resign from office.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 2:51pm

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Sherine Miller, the Kalamazoo Township Treasurer, has resigned from her position after the township board requested that the Governor remove her from office. A third-party report found that Miller was incapable of completing the duties of the elected position, putting the township's finances at risk. The board had previously voted to censure Miller, limit her access to financial systems, and restrict the amount of time she could spend in the office.

Why it matters

The resignation of the Kalamazoo Township Treasurer highlights the importance of having competent and accountable financial management in local government. The township's actions to address the treasurer's performance issues and ultimately secure her resignation demonstrate their commitment to ensuring the proper handling of the community's finances.

The details

The report by law firm Clark Hill detailed several complaints by township staff of Miller interfering with responsibilities not part of the treasurer's office. Over her nine plus years in office, a number of employees lodged complaints about Miller, saying she took work away from them to do herself, but then later asked for their help to fix problems with her work. The report found that Miller was "incapable of managing Township assessments and generating property tax bills," and that she also could not balance bank statements, write treasurer reports, use excel spreadsheets, or complete the tasks her position is required to by law. Investigators also expressed concerns about Miller's handling of $50 million worth of bonds, as she had told at least one of the township's banks that she was being investigated, which could have lowered the township's bond rating and increased the interest rate it would have to pay.

  • In January, the Board of Trustees voted to censure Miller, limit her access to financial systems, and restrict the amount of time she can spend in the office to just a handful of days.
  • In February, the trustees formally requested Governor Whitmer remove Miller from office.
  • On March 16, 2026, Sherine Miller gave up her role leading the township's finances.

The players

Sherine Miller

The former Kalamazoo Township Treasurer who resigned from her position after the township board requested that the Governor remove her from office.

David Combs

The Kalamazoo Township Supervisor.

Clark Hill

The law firm that conducted the third-party report on the Kalamazoo Township Treasurer's performance.

Gretchen Whitmer

The Governor of Michigan, who the Kalamazoo Township Board of Trustees petitioned to remove the treasurer from office.

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What they’re saying

“Our responsibility is to ensure that township services are carried out with the highest standards of accountability, transparency, and professionalism. This agreement allows the Township to move forward and focus on what matters most — providing reliable services to our community.”

— David Combs, Kalamazoo Township Supervisor

“I reserve all rights and attend to due course to respond to the allegations, to seek immediate restoration of my statutory duties, and to pursue all appropriate legal and equitable remedies.”

— Sherine Miller

What’s next

The township board committed to following state law as it fills the vacant treasurer role.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of having competent and accountable financial management in local government. The Kalamazoo Township's actions to address the treasurer's performance issues and secure her resignation demonstrate their commitment to ensuring the proper handling of the community's finances.