Where you live can cost you, a lot.

You choose where to live, but you can't choose how you're zoned.

One MidMichigan community says it's losing money because of how the township is broken up into three zip codes. It also says insurance rates are higher, and that tax dollars aren't coming back.

"For me, it's a no brainer," says Mark Boese of Saginaw County's Bridgeport Township.

Because of zoning, his mail is handled by the City of Saginaw.

His insurance rates are also based in Saginaw.

He says, he's never had an issue with crime, but yet his property risk ranks an 8 on a 10 point scale, making his insurance costs higher.

He believes, all of Bridgeport Township should share the same zip code to reduce insurance costs, raise property values, and keep tax money from leaving the township.

Boese says, "We're all counting our pennies and this is just something that would help us get through the tough times, so when the good times are here, we're here too."

Bridgeport Township Supervisor Patrick Gilles says, "The state gets the tax and refunds it back to the city or county where that came from. So anybody in Bridgeport at 48601, that tax credit goes to the City of Saginaw. That's hundreds of thousands of dollars Bridgeport is losing out on."

Not only that, Gilles says Birch Run gets credited for nearly half of the people in Bridgeport Township.

"We got short changed for from the north and south."

Gilles goes on to say, consolidating Bridgeport Township into one zip code would allow it to grow.

"When a developer looks, punches in 48722, he shows there's only 2,500 people here. In reality, we have 10,900 people, so I believe we've been short changed for a long time."

Nearly 3-thousand people have signed a petition wanting Bridgeport Township to go to one zip code.

However, it's not voters that can change the zoning.

Only an act of congress can give them what they want.

Bridgeport Township says it's representatives all support the idea of going to one zip code.

Township leaders are planning on sitting down with the postmaster general out of Grand Rapids next week to see if any headway can be made.