SENATE BILL No. 1245

May 4, 2000, Introduced by Senators EMMONS, MC MANUS, SIKKEMA, GOUGEON,

STILLE, GAST, ROGERS, SCHWARZ, KOIVISTO, HAMMERSTROM and

GOSCHKA and referred to the Committee on Farming, Agribusiness and Food Systems.

A bill to amend 1893 PA 206, entitled

"The general property tax act,"

by amending sections 7dd, 7ee, 10, 10d, 10f, 24, 24a, 24b, 24c,

27a, 27b, 27c, 31, 34, 34c, 34d, 42, 44, and 53b (MCL 211.7dd,

211.7ee, 211.10, 211.10d, 211.10f, 211.24, 211.24a, 211.24b,

211.24c, 211.27a, 211.27b, 211.27c, 211.31, 211.34, 211.34c,

211.34d, 211.42, 211.44, and 211.53b), sections 7dd, 7ee, 10f,

24c, 27a, 27b, 34c, and 34d as amended and section 27c as added

by 1996 PA 476, sections 10, 24, and 24b as amended by 1994 PA

415, section 10d as amended by 1984 PA 19, section 34 as amended

by 1986 PA 105, section 44 as amended by 1996 PA 57, and section

53b as amended by 1995 PA 74, and by adding sections 7gg, 27e,

28a, 29a, 30d, 30e, 32a, and 33a; and to repeal acts and parts of

acts.

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THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

1 Sec. 7dd. As used in sections 7cc and 7ee:

2 (a) "Homestead" means that portion of a dwelling or unit in

3 a multiple-unit dwelling that is subject to ad valorem taxes and

4 is owned and occupied as a principal residence by an owner of the

5 dwelling or unit. Homestead also includes all of an owner's

6 unoccupied property classified as residential that is adjoining

7 or contiguous to the dwelling subject to ad valorem taxes and

8 that is owned and occupied as a principal residence by the

9 owner. Contiguity is not broken by a road, a right-of-way, or

10 property purchased or taken under condemnation proceedings by a

11 public utility for power transmission lines if the 2 parcels sep-

12 arated by the purchased or condemned property were a single

13 parcel prior to the sale or condemnation. Homestead also

14 includes any portion of a principal residence of an owner that is

15 rented or leased to another person as a residence as long as that

16 portion of the principal residence that is rented or leased is

17 less than 50% of the total square footage of living space in that

18 principal residence. Homestead also includes a life care facil-

19 ity registered under the living care disclosure act, Act No. 440

20 of the Public Acts of 1976, being sections 554.801 to 554.844 of

21 the Michigan Compiled Laws 1976 PA 440, MCL 554.801 TO 554.844.

22 Homestead also includes property owned by a cooperative housing

23 corporation and occupied as a principal residence by tenant

24 stockholders.

25 (b) "Owner" means any of the following:

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1 (i) A person who owns property or who is purchasing property

2 under a land contract.

3 (ii) A person who is a partial owner of property.

4 (iii) A person who owns property as a result of being a ben-

5 eficiary of a will or trust or as a result of intestate

6 succession.

7 (iv) A person who owns or is purchasing a dwelling on leased

8 land.

9 (v) A person holding a life lease in property previously

10 sold or transferred to another.

11 (vi) A grantor who has placed the property in a revocable

12 trust or a qualified personal residence trust.

13 (vii) A cooperative housing corporation.

14 (viii) A facility registered under Act No. 440 of the

15 Public Acts of 1976 THE LIVING CARE DISCLOSURE ACT, 1976 PA 440,

16 MCL 554.801 TO 554.844.

17 (c) "Person", for purposes of defining owner as used in

18 section 7cc, means an individual and for purposes of defining

19 owner as used in section 7ee means an individual, partnership,

20 corporation, limited liability company, association, or other

21 legal entity.

22 (d) "Principal residence" means the 1 place where a person

23 has his or her true, fixed, and permanent home to which, whenever

24 absent, he or she intends to return and that shall continue as a

25 principal residence until another principal residence is

26 established.

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1 (e) "Qualified agricultural property" means unoccupied

2 property and related buildings classified as agricultural REAL

3 PROPERTY, or other unoccupied property and related buildings

4 located on that property devoted primarily to agricultural use as

5 defined in section 36101 of part 361 (farmland and open space

6 preservation) of the natural resources and environmental protec-

7 tion act, Act No. 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being section

8 324.36101 of the Michigan Compiled Laws 34C. Related buildings

9 include a residence occupied by a person employed in or actively

10 involved in the agricultural use and who has not claimed a home-

11 stead exemption on other property. Property used for commercial

12 storage, commercial processing, commercial distribution, commer-

13 cial marketing, or commercial shipping operations or other com-

14 mercial or industrial purposes is not qualified agricultural

15 property. A parcel of property is devoted primarily to agricul-

16 tural use only if more than 50% of the parcel's acreage is

17 devoted to agricultural use. An owner shall not receive an

18 exemption for that portion of the total state equalized valuation

19 of the property that is used for a commercial or industrial pur-

20 pose or that is a residence that is not a related building.

21 Sec. 7ee. (1) Qualified agricultural property is exempt

22 from the tax levied by a local school district for school operat-

23 ing purposes to the extent provided under section 1211 of the

24 revised school code, Act No. 451 of the Public Acts of 1976,

25 being section 380.1211 of the Michigan Compiled Laws 1976 PA

26 451, MCL 380.1211, according to the provisions of this section.

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1 (2) Qualified agricultural property that is classified as

2 agricultural REAL PROPERTY under section 34c is exempt under

3 subsection (1) and the owner is not required to file an affidavit

4 claiming an exemption with the local tax collecting unit OR

5 COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIRECTOR, AS APPLICABLE, unless requested by

6 the assessor OR COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIRECTOR to determine whether

7 the property includes structures that are not exempt under this

8 section. To claim an exemption under subsection (1) for quali-

9 fied agricultural property that is not classified as agricultural

10 REAL PROPERTY under section 34c, the owner shall file an affida-

11 vit claiming the exemption with the local tax collecting unit by

12 May 1 FOR TAXES LEVIED BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2001 AND WITH THE COUNTY

13 EQUALIZATION DIRECTOR BY TAX DAY AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 2 FOR

14 TAXES LEVIED AFTER DECEMBER 31, 2000. However, if an affidavit

15 claiming a homestead exemption on qualified agricultural property

16 not classified as agricultural REAL PROPERTY was not filed by

17 May 1 in 1994, the owner shall file an affidavit under this sec-

18 tion by June 1, 1994.

19 (3) The affidavit shall be on a form prescribed by the

20 department of treasury.

21 (4) For property classified as agricultural REAL PROPERTY,

22 and upon receipt of an affidavit filed under subsection (2) for

23 property not classified as agricultural REAL PROPERTY, the

24 assessor COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIRECTOR shall determine if the

25 property is qualified agricultural property and if so shall

26 exempt the property from the collection of the tax as provided in

27 subsection (1) until December 31 of the year in which the

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1 property is no longer qualified agricultural property as defined

2 in section 7dd. An owner is required to file a new claim for

3 exemption on the same property as requested by the assessor

4 COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIRECTOR under subsection (2).

5 (5) Not more than 90 days after all or a portion of the

6 exempted property is no longer qualified agricultural property,

7 the owner shall rescind the exemption for the applicable portion

8 of the property by filing with the local tax collecting unit

9 COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIRECTOR a rescission form prescribed by the

10 department of treasury. Beginning October 1, 1994, an owner who

11 fails to file a rescission as required by this subsection is

12 subject to a penalty of $5.00 per day for each separate failure

13 beginning after the 90 days have elapsed, up to a maximum of

14 $200.00. This penalty shall be collected under Act No. 122 of

15 the Public Acts of 1941, being sections 205.1 to 205.31 of the

16 Michigan Compiled Laws 1941 PA 122, MCL 205.1 TO 205.31, and

17 shall be deposited in the state school aid fund established in

18 section 11 of article IX of the state constitution of 1963. This

19 penalty may be waived by the department of treasury.

20 (6) An owner of property that is qualified agricultural

21 property on May 1 for which an exemption was not on the tax roll

22 may file an appeal with the July or December COUNTY QUALIFIED

23 AGRICULTURAL board of review in the year the exemption was

24 claimed or the immediately succeeding year. An owner of property

25 that is qualified agricultural property on May 1 for which an

26 exemption was denied by the assessor COUNTY EQUALIZATION

27 DIRECTOR in the year the affidavit was filed, may file an appeal

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1 with the July COUNTY QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY board of

2 review for summer taxes or, if there is not a summer levy of

3 school operating taxes, with the December COUNTY QUALIFIED AGRI-

4 CULTURAL PROPERTY board of review.

5 (7) If the assessor of the local tax collecting unit

6 COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIRECTOR believes that the property for which

7 an exemption has been granted is not qualified agricultural prop-

8 erty, effective for taxes levied after 1994, the assessor

9 COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIRECTOR may deny or modify an existing

10 exemption by notifying the owner in writing at the time required

11 for providing a notice under section 24c. THE APPLICABLE ASSESS-

12 ING OFFICER FOR THE LOCAL TAX COLLECTING UNIT IN WHICH QUALIFIED

13 AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY IS LOCATED MAY CONTACT THE COUNTY EQUALIZA-

14 TION DIRECTOR IF THAT ASSESSING OFFICER BELIEVES THAT PROPERTY

15 FOR WHICH AN EXEMPTION HAS BEEN GRANTED IS NOT QUALIFIED AGRICUL-

16 TURAL PROPERTY. A taxpayer may appeal the assessor's COUNTY

17 EQUALIZATION DIRECTOR'S determination to the COUNTY QUALIFIED

18 AGRICULTURAL board of review meeting under section 30 29A. A

19 decision of the COUNTY QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL board of review may

20 be appealed to the residential and small claims division of the

21 Michigan tax tribunal.

22 (8) If an exemption under this section is erroneously grant-

23 ed, an owner may request in writing that the local tax collect-

24 ing unit COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIRECTOR withdraw the exemption.

25 If an owner requests that an exemption be withdrawn, the local

26 assessor COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIRECTOR shall notify the owner

27 that the exemption issued under this section has been denied

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1 based on that owner's request. If an exemption is withdrawn, the

2 property that had been subject to that exemption shall be immedi-

3 ately placed on the tax roll by the local tax collecting unit if

4 the local tax collecting unit has possession of the tax roll or

5 by the county treasurer if the county has possession of the tax

6 roll as though the exemption had not been granted. A corrected

7 tax bill shall be issued for the tax year being adjusted by the

8 local tax collecting unit if the local tax collecting unit has

9 possession of the tax roll or by the county treasurer if the

10 county has possession of the tax roll. If an owner requests that

11 an exemption under this section be withdrawn before that owner is

12 contacted in writing by the local assessor COUNTY EQUALIZATION

13 DIRECTOR regarding that owner's eligibility for the exemption and

14 that owner pays the corrected tax bill issued under this subsec-

15 tion within 30 days after the corrected tax bill is issued, that

16 owner is not liable for any penalty or interest on the additional

17 tax. An owner who pays a corrected tax bill issued under this

18 subsection more than 30 days after the corrected tax bill is

19 issued is liable for the penalties and interest that would have

20 accrued if the exemption had not been granted from the date the

21 taxes were originally levied.

22 (9) An owner of qualified agricultural property for which an

23 exemption was on the tax roll in 1995 and each year after 1995

24 and for which an exemption was not on the tax roll in 1994 may

25 appeal to the July or December board of review in 1997 to have an

26 exemption placed on the 1994 tax roll if all of the following

27 conditions are satisfied:

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1 (a) The qualified agricultural property was qualified

2 agricultural property in 1994 and has been qualified agricultural

3 property since 1994.

4 (b) The owner owned that qualified agricultural property on

5 May 1, 1994.

6 (c) If a claim of exemption was denied in 1994, the owner

7 did not timely appeal that denial as provided in this section.

8 (d) The owner has owned that qualified agricultural property

9 since 1994.

10 (10) If the July or December board of review in 1997 grants

11 a claim of exemption for 1994 under subsection (9), the county

12 treasurer with possession of the tax roll being adjusted shall

13 amend the 1994 tax roll to reflect the exemption and shall issue

14 a corrected tax bill exempting that qualified agricultural prop-

15 erty from the tax levied in 1994 for school operating purposes to

16 the extent provided under section 1211 of Act No. 451 of the

17 Public Acts of 1976 THE REVISED SCHOOL CODE, 1976 PA 451, MCL

18 380.1211, pursuant to subsection (1).

19 (11) If the July or December board of review in 1997 denies

20 a claim of exemption for 1994 under subsection (9), an owner may

21 appeal that denial to the residential and small claims division

22 of the Michigan tax tribunal within 35 days of that denial.

23 (12) AN OWNER OF QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY SHALL

24 INFORM A PROSPECTIVE BUYER OF THAT QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROP-

25 ERTY THAT IF THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY IS CONVERTED BY

26 A CHANGE IN USE THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY IS SUBJECT TO

27 THE RECAPTURE TAX PROVIDED IN THE AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY RECAPTURE

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1 ACT. AS USED IN THIS SUBSECTION, "CONVERTED BY A CHANGE IN USE"

2 MEANS THAT TERM AS DEFINED IN THE AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY RECAPTURE

3 ACT.

4 SEC. 7GG. (1) A GREENHOUSE, BUT NOT THE LAND ON WHICH IT IS

5 LOCATED, AND ALL FLOWERING, NURSERY, OR VEGETABLE PLANTS LOCATED

6 WITHIN THE GREENHOUSE ARE EXEMPT FROM THE COLLECTION OF TAXES

7 UNDER THIS ACT.

8 (2) AS USED IN THIS SECTION, "GREENHOUSE" MEANS A STRUCTURE

9 OR ENCLOSURE CONSISTING OF A WOOD, FIBERGLASS, OR METAL FRAME

10 WITH A GLASS, PLASTIC, ACRYLIC, POLYCARBONATE, POLYETHYLENE, OR

11 SIMILAR COVERING, THAT IS DESIGNED TO REGULATE CLIMATIC CONDI-

12 TIONS IN ORDER TO GERMINATE, GROW, OR STORE FLOWERING, NURSERY,

13 OR VEGETABLE PLANTS.

14 Sec. 10. (1) An assessment of all the property in the state

15 liable to taxation shall be made annually in all townships, vil-

16 lages, and cities, AND IN ALL COUNTIES FOR QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL

17 PROPERTY, by the applicable assessing officer as provided in sec-

18 tion 3 of article IX of the state constitution of 1963 and sec-

19 tion 27a.

20 (2) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the act

21 of incorporation or charter of a village, an assessment for vil-

22 lage taxes shall be identical to the assessment made by the

23 applicable assessing officer of the township, OR COUNTY FOR QUAL-

24 IFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY, in which the village is located, and

25 tax statements shall set forth clearly the state equalized

26 value VALUATION OR AGRICULTURAL USE VALUE FOR QUALIFIED

27 AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY and the taxable value of the individual

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1 properties in the village upon which authorized millages are

2 levied.

3 (3) If a nonresident of the taxing unit requests in writing

4 information regarding the assessment of his or her property, the

5 supervisor or APPLICABLE assessing officer shall reply to the

6 request within a reasonable length of time.

7 Sec. 10d. (1) The annual assessment of property shall be

8 made by an assessor who has been certified as qualified by the

9 board as having successfully completed training in a school of

10 assessment practices or by the passage of HAVING PASSED a test

11 approved by the board and conducted by the board or an agency

12 approved by the board that will enable the person to properly

13 discharge the functions of the office. The school OF ASSESSMENT

14 PRACTICES shall be established by an approved educational insti-

15 tution in conjunction with the board and SHALL be supervised by

16 the board and its agents and employees. The board may determine

17 that a director of an equalization department or an assessor, who

18 has not received the training, possesses the necessary qualifica-

19 tions for performing TO PERFORM the functions of the office by

20 the passage of PASSING an approved examination.

21 (2) The board may also grant a conditional 6-month certifi-

22 cation to a newly elected assessing officer or an assessing offi-

23 cer appointed to fill an unexpired term if all of the following

24 criteria are met:

25 (a) The newly elected or appointed assessing officer makes

26 an application for certification with payment of the required

27 filing fee.

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1 (b) The governing body of the local assessing unit

2 DISTRICT requests the board to conditionally certify the newly

3 elected or appointed assessing officer.

4 (c) The newly elected or appointed assessing officer or the

5 governing body OF THE LOCAL ASSESSING DISTRICT submits a state-

6 ment outlining the course of training he or she plans to pursue.

7 (d) The period of time for which the conditional certifica-

8 tion is requested does not exceed 6 months after the date that

9 he or she THE NEWLY ELECTED OR APPOINTED ASSESSING OFFICER

10 assumes office.

11 (3) Conditional certification UNDER SUBSECTION (2) shall not

12 be granted for any assessment unit LOCAL ASSESSING DISTRICT

13 more than once in 4 years.

14 (4) Conditional certification under subsection (2) shall

15 only be granted to a newly elected or appointed assessing officer

16 in an assessment unit which A LOCAL ASSESSING DISTRICT THAT

17 does not exceed a total state equalized valuation of

18 $125,000,000.00.

19 (5) Upon presentation of evidence of the successful comple-

20 tion of the qualifications, the assessor shall be certified as

21 qualified by the board.

22 (6) A local assessing district which THAT does not have an

23 assessor qualified by certification of the board may employ an

24 A CERTIFIED assessor. so qualified. If a local assessing dis-

25 trict does not have an assessor qualified by certification of the

26 board, and has not employed a certified assessor, the assessment

27 shall be made by the county tax or equalization department or the

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1 state tax commission and the cost of preparing the TAX rolls

2 shall be charged to the local assessing district.

3 (7) Every lawful assessment roll shall have a certificate

4 attached signed by the certified assessor who prepared or super-

5 vised the preparation of the roll. The certificate shall be in

6 the form prescribed by the state tax commission. If after com-

7 pleting the assessment roll the certified assessor for the local

8 assessing district dies or otherwise becomes incapable of certi-

9 fying the assessment roll, the county equalization director or

10 the state tax commission shall certify the completed assessment

11 roll at no cost to the local assessing district.

12 (8) The local assessing district shall assume the cost of

13 training, if a certification is awarded, to the extent of course

14 fees and recognized travel expenditures.

15 (9) An assessor who certifies an assessment roll in which he

16 or she did not have direct supervision is guilty of a

17 misdemeanor.

18 (10) The board shall promulgate rules for the issuance or

19 revocation of certification.

20 (11) The director of a county tax or equalization department

21 required by section 34 of this act shall be certified by the

22 board at the level determined to be necessary by the board before

23 being appointed by the county board of commissioners pursuant to

24 section 34 or before performing or, after the effective date of

25 this subsection, continuing to perform, the functions of the

26 director of a county tax or equalization department. The board

27 may grant a conditional extension of 12 months to a person who is

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1 serving as the director of a county tax or equalization

2 department on the effective date of this subsection if all of the

3 following conditions are satisfied:

4 (a) At the time of making application for certification the

5 person is currently certified at not less than 1 level below the

6 level required by the board for that county.

7 (b) The person makes application for certification with pay-

8 ment of the required fee.

9 (c) The county board of commissioners requests the board to

10 grant the extension.

11 (d) The person submits a statement to the board outlining

12 the course of study he or she intends to pursue to obtain

13 certification.

14 The board may grant an additional 6-month extension if the exten-

15 sion is requested by the county board of commissioners and the

16 applicant demonstrates satisfactory progress in the course of

17 study outlined to the board under this subsection. In a county

18 in which a vacancy has been created in the position of director

19 of a county tax or equalization department and in which the posi-

20 tion was previously filled by a person certified at the level

21 required by the board pursuant to this subsection, a person cer-

22 tified at 1 level below the level required by the board pursuant

23 to this subsection may serve in the position for 12 months after

24 the vacancy has been created.

25 (12) AS USED IN THIS SECTION, "LOCAL ASSESSING DISTRICT"

26 INCLUDES, FOR QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY, A COUNTY.

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1 Sec. 10f. (1) If a local assessing district does not have

2 an assessment roll that has been certified by a qualified

3 certified assessing officer, or if a certified assessor or a

4 board of review for a local tax collecting unit is not in sub-

5 stantial compliance with the provisions of this act, the state

6 tax commission shall assume jurisdiction over the assessment roll

7 and provide for the preparation of a certified roll. The STATE

8 TAX commission may order the county tax or equalization depart-

9 ment to prepare the roll; may provide for the use of state

10 employees to prepare the roll; or may order the local assessing

11 unit DISTRICT to contract with a commercial appraisal firm to

12 conduct an appraisal of the property in the LOCAL assessing

13 unit DISTRICT under the supervision of the county tax or equal-

14 ization department and the STATE TAX commission. The costs of an

15 appraisal and the preparation of the roll by the county tax or

16 equalization department or by the STATE TAX commission shall be

17 paid by the local assessing district as provided by section 10d.

18 The commission shall consider the quality of the tax maps and

19 appraisal records required by section 10e as part of its investi-

20 gation of the facts before ordering the local assessing unit

21 DISTRICT to contract for an appraisal.

22 (2) If a certified assessment roll cannot be provided in

23 sufficient time for a summer tax levy, or for the annual levy on

24 December 1, the STATE TAX commission shall order the levy of

25 interim taxes based on the tentative taxable value of individual

26 properties as determined by the STATE TAX commission. Tentative

27 taxable values shall be calculated pursuant to section 27a.

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1 State equalized values necessary to determine tentative taxable

2 values shall be determined by the STATE TAX commission, sitting

3 as the state board of equalization, apportioned to the local

4 assessing unit DISTRICT by the county board of commissioners,

5 and apportioned to each property in proportion to the assessed

6 valuation entered in the current uncertified assessment roll. If

7 there is no current assessment roll, the STATE TAX commission

8 shall substitute the latest complete assessment roll for the cur-

9 rent roll for the interim tax levy. The payment of a tax levied

10 as an interim tax levy does not constitute a final and ultimate

11 discharge of the taxpayer's liability for the tax levied against

12 that property. An interim tax levy made under this subsection

13 shall be clearly labeled as an "interim tax levy subject to

14 adjustment after an assessment roll is certified".

15 (3) Within 30 days after the final determination by the

16 STATE TAX commission of the assessed valuation and taxable value

17 for each individual property listed on the assessment roll, the

18 STATE TAX commission shall cause to be mailed a notice of the new

19 assessment and new taxable value to each owner. An owner has the

20 right to petition the tax tribunal directly for a hearing on the

21 assessed valuation or taxable value within 30 days after the date

22 of the notice in the same manner as provided under section 35 of

23 the tax tribunal act, Act No. 186 of the Public Acts of 1973,

24 being section 205.735 of the Michigan Compiled Laws 1973 PA 186,

25 MCL 205.735. The notice shall specify each parcel of property,

26 the assessed valuation for the current year, the assessed

27 valuation for the immediately preceding year, the tentative

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1 taxable value for the current year, the taxable value for the

2 immediately preceding year, the state equalized valuation for the

3 immediately preceding year, the tentative state equalized valua-

4 tion for the current year, the net change in the assessed valua-

5 tion, the net change in the tentative taxable value, and the net

6 change between the tentative state equalized valuation for the

7 current year and the state equalized valuation for the immedi-

8 ately preceding year. The notice shall include a statement

9 informing the owner that an appeal of the assessment or taxable

10 value must be made within 30 days of the date of the assessment

11 notice directly to the tax tribunal and shall also include infor-

12 mation on how and where an appeal can be made.

13 (4) After the final determination of the state equalized

14 valuations and taxable values by the STATE TAX commission, the

15 APPLICABLE assessing officer or, if there is no assessing offi-

16 cer, an agent designated by the STATE TAX commission shall deter-

17 mine the difference in tax, if any, between the interim levy and

18 a levy made on the final taxable values as finally determined by

19 the STATE TAX commission, which may be referred to as the "final

20 levy". The final levy shall be at the rates that were approved

21 and ordered spread for the year in which there was not a certi-

22 fied assessment roll.

23 (5) A difference in the tax determined in subsection (4)

24 shall be reported to the county board of commissioners, which

25 shall order that additional taxes or credits against individual

26 properties be added to or subtracted from the next succeeding

27 annual tax roll, together with a proportionate share of the

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1 property tax administration fee, if a fee is charged, applicable

2 to the difference.

3 (6) Additional taxes collected or credits against the tax

4 liability made under this section shall be shared by taxing units

5 in the respective proportions that they share the revenue

6 received from the final levy.

7 (7) The STATE TAX commission shall render technical assist-

8 ance if necessary to implement this section.

9 (8) The STATE TAX commission shall provide the tax tribunal

10 with a certified copy of its orders and a copy of each final

11 determination made under this section.

12 (9) AS USED IN THIS SECTION, "LOCAL ASSESSING DISTRICT"

13 INCLUDES, FOR QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY, A COUNTY.

14 Sec. 24. (1) On or before the first Monday in March in each

15 year, the supervisor or assessor APPLICABLE ASSESSING OFFICER

16 shall make and complete an assessment roll, upon which he or she

17 shall set down the name and address of every person liable to be

18 taxed in the township or assessment district with a full

19 description of all the real property liable to be taxed. If the

20 name of the owner or occupant of any tract or parcel of real

21 property is known, the assessor APPLICABLE ASSESSING OFFICER

22 shall enter the name and address of the owner or occupant oppo-

23 site to the description of the property. If unknown, the real

24 property described upon the roll shall be assessed as "owner

25 unknown". All contiguous subdivisions of any section that are

26 owned by 1 person, firm, corporation, or other legal entity and

27 all unimproved lots in any block that are contiguous and owned by

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1 1 person, firm, corporation, or other legal entity shall be

2 assessed as 1 parcel, unless demand in writing is made by the

3 owner or occupant to have each subdivision of the section or each

4 lot assessed separately. However, failure to assess contiguous

5 parcels as entireties does not invalidate the assessment as

6 made. Each description shall show as near as possible the number

7 of acres contained in it, as determined by the assessor

8 APPLICABLE ASSESSING OFFICER. It is not necessary for the

9 assessment roll to specify the quantity of land comprised in any

10 town, city, or village lot. The assessor APPLICABLE ASSESSING

11 OFFICER shall estimate, according to his or her best information

12 and judgment, the TRUE CASH VALUE AND AGRICULTURAL USE VALUE FOR

13 QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY AND THE true cash value and

14 assessed value of every parcel of real property THAT IS NOT QUAL-

15 IFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY and set the AGRICULTURAL USE VALUE OR

16 assessed value down opposite the parcel. The assessor

17 APPLICABLE ASSESSING OFFICER shall calculate the tentative tax-

18 able value of every parcel of real property and set that value

19 down opposite the parcel. The assessor APPLICABLE ASSESSING

20 OFFICER shall determine the percentage of value of every parcel

21 of real property that is exempt from the tax levied by a local

22 school district for school operating purposes to the extent pro-

23 vided under section 1211 of the school code of 1976, Act No. 451

24 of the Public Acts of 1976, being section 380.1211 of the

25 Michigan Compiled laws 1976 PA 451, MCL 380.1211, and set that

26 percentage of value down opposite the parcel. The assessor

27 APPLICABLE ASSESSING OFFICER shall determine the date of the last

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1 transfer of ownership of every parcel of real property occurring

2 after December 31, 1994 and set that date down opposite the

3 parcel. The assessor APPLICABLE ASSESSING OFFICER shall also

4 estimate the true cash value of all the personal property of each

5 person, and set the assessed value and tentative taxable value

6 down opposite the name of the person. In determining the prop-

7 erty to be assessed and in estimating the value of that property,

8 the assessor APPLICABLE ASSESSING OFFICER is not bound to

9 follow the statements of any person, but shall exercise his or

10 her best judgment. Property assessed to a person other than the

11 owner shall be assessed separately from the owner's property and

12 shall show in what capacity it is assessed to that person,

13 whether as agent, guardian, or otherwise. Two or more persons

14 not being copartners, owning personal property in common, may

15 each be assessed severally for each person's portion. Undivided

16 interests in lands owned by tenants in common, or joint tenants

17 not being copartners, may be assessed to the owners.

18 (2) The state geologist, or his or her duly authorized

19 deputy, shall determine, according to his or her best information

20 and judgment, the true cash value of the metallic mining proper-

21 ties and mineral rights consisting of metallic resources that are

22 either producing, developed, or have a known commercial mineral

23 value, including surface rights and personal property that may be

24 used in the operation or development of the property assessed, or

25 any stockpile of ore or mineral stored on the surface. For the

26 purpose of encouraging the exploration and development of

27 metallic mineral resources, metallic mineral ore newly discovered

05309'99 *

21

1 or proven in the ground and not part of the property of an

2 operating mine shall be exempt from the taxes collected under

3 this act for a maximum period of 10 years or until the time it

4 becomes part of the property of an operating mine or it in itself

5 becomes an operating mine. Metallic mineral ore newly discovered

6 or proven in the ground and part of the property of an operating

7 mine shall be exempt from taxes collected under this act until

8 it, in combination with previously discovered metallic mineral

9 ore of the operating mine, comes into a 10-year recovery period

10 of the mine as determined by the average normal annual rate of

11 extraction of the mine.

12 (3) An operating mine shall be defined to be an operating

13 mine as of the date of starting of a shaft, stripping of overbur-

14 den, or rehabilitation, or an abandoned or idle mine closed for

15 not less than 2 years. Ore shall not enjoy more than 10 years'

16 exemption from taxation. This section does not exempt from the

17 taxes collected under this act ore reserves proven as of April 1,

18 1947. It is the intent of this act that mineral properties shall

19 be valued and assessed in the future for ad valorem taxes accord-

20 ing to the formula used in the valuation of mineral properties

21 before the effective date of this act. It is the intent of this

22 act that no metallic mineral ore shall be exempt more than 10

23 years because of the application of this act and if at any time

24 it becomes evident that such is the case, the state tax commis-

25 sion shall determine the value of this untaxed ore and place this

26 valuation on the proper tax roll. The state geologist shall

27 report his or her determination of the true cash value of the

05309'99 *

22

1 mineral properties to the state tax commission on or before

2 February 10 of each year. The state tax commission shall assess

3 the mineral properties containing 20% or more of natural iron per

4 ton of ore in conformity and uniformity with all other property

5 within the assessing district. The state tax commission shall

6 assess all other metallic mineral properties at the value certi-

7 fied by the state geologist. The state tax commission, as early

8 as is practicable before February 20, shall certify the assess-

9 ment of the property to the supervisor or APPLICABLE assessing

10 officer of the township or city in which the property is situat-

11 ed, who shall for the mineral properties and mineral rights that

12 are owned separate from the surface rights on the property assess

13 each to the owner at the valuation certified to him or her.

14 However, an adjustment to the value certified by the state tax

15 commission may be made by the supervisor or APPLICABLE assessing

16 officer of the township or city to reflect any general adjustment

17 of assessed valuation from the immediately preceding year not

18 included in the state tax commission computation. The supervisor

19 or APPLICABLE assessing officer shall determine the true cash

20 value of the surface rights and assess the value of the surface

21 rights to the owner. The assessment upon the metallic mining

22 properties and mineral rights may be altered from year to year

23 regardless of whether any previous assessment has been reviewed

24 by the state tax commission. The supervisor or other local

25 APPLICABLE assessing officer or the owner of any interest in the

26 property assessed may appeal the assessment and valuation of the

27 property as determined by the board of review to the state tax

05309'99 *

23

1 commission which shall review the assessment and valuation as

2 provided in section 152.

3 Sec. 24a. (1) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this

4 act, a county, by resolution of the board of supervisors

5 COMMISSIONERS, may prepare tax rolls and extend SUBMIT BILLS

6 FOR the taxes thereon ON THOSE TAX ROLLS for the cities and

7 townships LOCAL UNITS in the THAT county at the expense of

8 the THAT county or the local unit UNITS.

9 (2) FOR TAXES LEVIED AFTER DECEMBER 31, 2000, THE COUNTY

10 EQUALIZATION DIRECTOR SHALL PREPARE THE TAX ROLL FOR ALL QUALI-

11 FIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY LOCATED WITHIN THAT COUNTY. IF PROP-

12 ERTY PREVIOUSLY ASSESSED AS QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY IS NO

13 LONGER QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY, THE COUNTY EQUALIZATION

14 DIRECTOR SHALL TRANSMIT ALL APPLICABLE ASSESSING RECORDS FOR THAT

15 PROPERTY TO THE APPLICABLE ASSESSING OFFICER FOR THE LOCAL TAX

16 COLLECTING UNIT IN WHICH THE FORMER QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROP-

17 ERTY IS LOCATED. THE COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIRECTOR SHALL ANNUALLY

18 REPORT CERTAIN QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY VALUATION DATA TO

19 THE STATE TAX COMMISSION ON A FORM PRESCRIBED BY THE STATE TAX

20 COMMISSION. AS USED IN THIS SECTION, "QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL

21 PROPERTY" MEANS PROPERTY EXEMPT FROM THE TAX LEVIED BY A LOCAL

22 SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR SCHOOL OPERATING PURPOSES UNDER SECTION 7EE.

23 Sec. 24b. (1) The tax roll and the tax statement shall

24 clearly set forth the latest taxable value for each item of

25 property.

05309'99 *

24

1 (2) The supervisor or assessor APPLICABLE ASSESSING

2 OFFICER shall spread the taxes on the tax roll on the taxable

3 value for each item of property.

4 (3) These requirements do not apply if the current year's

5 state equalized valuation or taxable value is not available when

6 the tax roll or tax statements of a city are prepared under a law

7 or charter provision.

8 Sec. 24c. (1) The assessor APPLICABLE ASSESSING OFFICER

9 shall give to each owner or person or persons listed on the

10 assessment roll of the property a notice by first-class mail of

11 an increase in the tentative state equalized valuation, THE TEN-

12 TATIVE AGRICULTURAL USE VALUE, or the tentative taxable value for

13 the year. The notice shall specify each parcel of property, the

14 tentative taxable value for the current year and, beginning in

15 1996, the taxable value for the immediately preceding year. The

16 notice shall also specify the time and place of the meeting of

17 the board of review. Beginning in 1996, the notice shall also

18 specify the difference between the property's tentative taxable

19 value in the current year and the property's taxable value in the

20 immediately preceding year.

21 (2) The notice shall include, in addition to the information

22 required by subsection (1), all of the following:

23 (a) The state equalized valuation for the immediately pre-

24 ceding year.

25 (b) The tentative state equalized valuation for the current

26 year.

05309'99 *

25

1 (c) The net change between the tentative state equalized

2 valuation for the current year and the state equalized valuation

3 for the immediately preceding year.

4 (D) FOR QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY, ALL OF THE

5 FOLLOWING:

6 (i) BEGINNING IN 2002, THE AGRICULTURAL USE VALUE FOR THE

7 IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING YEAR.

8 (ii) THE TENTATIVE AGRICULTURAL USE VALUE FOR THE CURRENT

9 YEAR.

10 (iii) BEGINNING IN 2002, THE NET CHANGE BETWEEN THE TENTA-

11 TIVE AGRICULTURAL USE VALUE FOR THE CURRENT YEAR AND THE AGRICUL-

12 TURAL USE VALUE FOR THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING YEAR.

13 (iv) THE RECAPTURE TAX THAT WOULD BE IMPOSED UNDER THE AGRI-

14 CULTURAL PROPERTY RECAPTURE ACT IF THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL

15 PROPERTY WERE CONVERTED BY A CHANGE IN USE. AS USED IN THIS SUB-

16 PARAGRAPH, "CONVERTED BY A CHANGE IN USE" MEANS THAT TERM AS

17 DEFINED IN THE AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY RECAPTURE ACT.

18 (E) (d) The classification of the property as defined by

19 section 34c AND WHETHER THAT PROPERTY IS QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL

20 PROPERTY EXEMPT FROM THE TAX LEVIED BY A LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

21 FOR SCHOOL OPERATING PURPOSES UNDER SECTION 7EE.

22 (F) (e) The inflation rate for the immediately preceding

23 year as defined in section 34d.

24 (G) (f) A statement provided by the state tax commission

25 explaining the relationship between state equalized valuation and

26 taxable value OR, FOR QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY, THE

27 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE AGRICULTURAL USE VALUE AND TAXABLE

05309'99 *

26

1 VALUE. Beginning in 1996, if the assessor APPLICABLE ASSESSING

2 OFFICER believes that a transfer of ownership has occurred in the

3 immediately preceding year, the statement shall state that the

4 ownership was transferred and that the taxable value of that

5 property is the same as the state equalized valuation of that

6 property OR, FOR QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY, THE SAME AS THE

7 AGRICULTURAL USE VALUE.

8 (3) When required by the income tax act of 1967, Act

9 No. 281 of the Public Acts of 1967, being sections 206.1 to

10 206.532 of the Michigan Compiled Laws 1967 PA 281, MCL 206.1 TO

11 206.532, the assessment notice shall include or be accompanied by

12 information or forms prescribed by Act No. 281 of the Public

13 Acts of 1967 THE INCOME TAX ACT OF 1967, 1967 PA 281, MCL 206.1

14 TO 206.532.

15 (4) The assessment notice shall be addressed to the owner

16 according to the records of the assessor APPLICABLE ASSESSING

17 OFFICER and mailed not less than 10 days before the meeting of

18 the APPLICABLE board of review. The failure to send or receive

19 an assessment notice does not invalidate an assessment roll or an

20 assessment on that property.

21 (5) The tentative state equalized valuation shall be calcu-

22 lated by multiplying the assessment by the tentative equalized

23 valuation multiplier. If the assessor APPLICABLE ASSESSING

24 OFFICER has made assessment adjustments that would have changed

25 the tentative multiplier, the assessor APPLICABLE ASSESSING

26 OFFICER may recalculate the multiplier for use in the notice.

05309'99 *

27

1 (6) The state tax commission shall prepare a model

2 assessment notice form that shall be made available to local

3 units of government.

4 (7) Beginning in 1995, the assessment notice under subsec-

5 tion (1) shall include the following statement:

6 "If you purchased your homestead after May 1 last

7 year, to claim the homestead exemption, if you have

8 not already done so, you are required to file an

9 affidavit before May 1.".

10 Sec. 27a. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section

11 AND SECTION 27E, property shall be assessed at 50% of its true

12 cash value under section 3 of article IX of the state constitu-

13 tion of 1963.

14 (2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3), for

15 taxes levied in 1995 and for each year after 1995, the taxable

16 value of each parcel of property is the lesser of the following:

17 (a) The property's taxable value in the immediately preced-

18 ing year minus any losses, multiplied by the lesser of 1.05 or

19 the inflation rate, plus all additions. For taxes levied in

20 1995, the property's taxable value in the immediately preceding

21 year is the property's state equalized valuation in 1994.

22 (b) The property's current state equalized valuation.

23 (3) Upon a transfer of ownership of property after 1994, the

24 property's taxable value for the calendar year following the year

25 of the transfer is the property's state equalized valuation for

26 the calendar year following the transfer.

05309'99 *

28

1 (4) If the taxable value of property is adjusted under

2 subsection (3), a subsequent increase in the property's taxable

3 value is subject to the limitation set forth in subsection (2)

4 until a subsequent transfer of ownership occurs.

5 (5) Assessment of property, as required in this section and

6 section 27, is inapplicable to the assessment of property subject

7 to the levy of ad valorem taxes within voted tax limitation

8 increases to pay principal and interest on limited tax bonds

9 issued by any governmental unit, including a county, township,

10 community college district, or school district, before January 1,

11 1964, if the assessment required to be made under this act would

12 be less than the assessment as state equalized prevailing on the

13 property at the time of the issuance of the bonds. This inappli-

14 cability shall continue until levy of taxes to pay principal and

15 interest on the bonds is no longer required. The assessment of

16 property required by this act shall be applicable for all other

17 purposes.

18 (6) As used in this act, "transfer of ownership" means the

19 conveyance of title to or a present interest in property, includ-

20 ing the beneficial use of the property, the value of which is

21 substantially equal to the value of the fee interest. Transfer

22 of ownership of property includes, but is not limited to, the

23 following:

24 (a) A conveyance by deed.

25 (b) A conveyance by land contract. The taxable value of

26 property conveyed by a land contract executed after December 31,

27 1994 shall be adjusted under subsection (3) for the calendar year

05309'99 *

29

1 following the year in which the contract is entered into and

2 shall not be subsequently adjusted under subsection (3) when the

3 deed conveying title to the property is recorded in the office of

4 the register of deeds in the county in which the property is

5 located.

6 (c) A conveyance to a trust after December 31, 1994, except

7 if the settlor or the settlor's spouse, or both, conveys the

8 property to the trust and the sole present beneficiary or benefi-

9 ciaries are the settlor or the settlor's spouse, or both.

10 (d) A conveyance by distribution from a trust, except if the

11 distributee is the sole present beneficiary or the spouse of the

12 sole present beneficiary, or both.

13 (e) A change in the sole present beneficiary or beneficia-

14 ries of a trust, except a change that adds or substitutes the

15 spouse of the sole present beneficiary.

16 (f) A conveyance by distribution under a will or by intes-

17 tate succession, except if the distributee is the decedent's

18 spouse.

19 (g) A conveyance by lease if the total duration of the

20 lease, including the initial term and all options for renewal, is

21 more than 35 years or the lease grants the leasee LESSEE a bar-

22 gain purchase option. As used in this subdivision, "bargain pur-

23 chase option" means the right to purchase the property at the

24 termination of the lease for not more than 80% of the property's

25 projected true cash value at the termination of the lease. After

26 December 31, 1994, the taxable value of property conveyed by a

27 lease with a total duration of more than 35 years or with a

05309'99 *

30

1 bargain purchase option shall be adjusted under subsection (3)

2 for the calendar year following the year in which the lease is

3 entered into. This subdivision does not apply to personal prop-

4 erty except buildings described in section 14(6) and personal

5 property described in section 8(h), (i), and (j). This subdivi-

6 sion does not apply to that portion of the property not subject

7 to the leasehold interest conveyed.

8 (h) A conveyance of an ownership interest in a corporation,

9 partnership, sole proprietorship, limited liability company,

10 limited liability partnership, or other legal entity if the

11 ownership interest conveyed is more than 50% of the corporation,

12 partnership, sole proprietorship, limited liability company,

13 limited liability partnership, or other legal entity. Unless

14 notification is provided under subsection (8), the corporation,

15 partnership, sole proprietorship, limited liability company,

16 limited liability partnership, or other legal entity shall notify

17 the APPLICABLE assessing officer on a form provided by the state

18 tax commission not more than 45 days after a conveyance of an

19 ownership interest that constitutes a transfer of ownership under

20 this subdivision.

21 (i) A transfer of property held as a tenancy in common,

22 except that portion of the property not subject to the ownership

23 interest conveyed.

24 (j) A conveyance of an ownership interest in a cooperative

25 housing corporation, except that portion of the property not

26 subject to the ownership interest conveyed.

05309'99 *

31

1 (7) Transfer of ownership does not include the following:

2 (a) The transfer of property from 1 spouse to the other

3 spouse or from a decedent to a surviving spouse.

4 (b) A transfer from a husband, a wife, or a husband and wife

5 creating or disjoining a tenancy by the entireties in the grant-

6 ors or the grantor and his or her spouse.

7 (c) A transfer of that portion of property subject to a life

8 estate or life lease retained by the transferor, until expiration

9 or termination of the life estate or life lease. That portion of

10 property transferred that is not subject to a life lease shall be

11 adjusted under subsection (3).

12 (d) A transfer through foreclosure or forfeiture of a

13 recorded instrument under chapter 31, 32, or 57 of the revised

14 judicature act of 1961, Act No. 236 of the Public Acts of 1961,

15 being sections 600.3101 to 600.3280 and 600.5701 to 600.5785 of

16 the Michigan Compiled Laws 1961 PA 236, MCL 600.3101 TO 600.3280

17 AND 600.5701 TO 600.5785, or through deed or conveyance in lieu

18 of a foreclosure or forfeiture, until the mortgagee or land con-

19 tract vendor subsequently transfers the property. If a mortgagee

20 does not transfer the property within 1 year of the expiration of

21 any applicable redemption period, the property shall be adjusted

22 under subsection (3).

23 (e) A transfer by redemption by the person to whom taxes are

24 assessed of property previously sold for delinquent taxes.

25 (f) A conveyance to a trust if the settlor or the settlor's

26 spouse, or both, conveys the property to the trust and the sole

05309'99 *

32

1 present beneficiary of the trust is the settlor or the settlor's

2 spouse, or both.

3 (g) A transfer pursuant to a judgment or order of a court of

4 record making or ordering a transfer, unless a specific monetary

5 consideration is specified or ordered by the court for the

6 transfer.

7 (h) A transfer creating or terminating a joint tenancy

8 between 2 or more persons if at least 1 of the persons was an

9 original owner of the property before the joint tenancy was ini-

10 tially created and, if the property is held as a joint tenancy at

11 the time of conveyance, at least 1 of the persons was a joint

12 tenant when the joint tenancy was initially created and that

13 person has remained a joint tenant since the joint tenancy was

14 initially created. A joint owner at the time of the last trans-

15 fer of ownership of the property is an original owner of the

16 property. For purposes of this subdivision, a person is an orig-

17 inal owner of property owned by that person's spouse.

18 (i) A transfer for security or an assignment or discharge of

19 a security interest.

20 (j) A transfer of real property or other ownership interests

21 among members of an affiliated group. As used in this subsec-

22 tion, "affiliated group" means 1 or more corporations connected

23 by stock ownership to a common parent corporation. Upon request

24 by the state tax commission, a corporation shall furnish proof

25 within 45 days that a transfer meets the requirements of this

26 subdivision. A corporation that fails to comply with a request

05309'99 *

33

1 by the state tax commission under this subdivision is subject to

2 a fine of $200.00.

3 (k) Normal public trading of shares of stock or other owner-

4 ship interests that, over any period of time, cumulatively repre-

5 sent more than 50% of the total ownership interest in a corpora-

6 tion or other legal entity and are traded in multiple transac-

7 tions involving unrelated individuals, institutions, or other

8 legal entities.

9 (l) A transfer of real property or other ownership interests

10 among corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies,

11 limited liability partnerships, or other legal entities if the

12 entities involved are commonly controlled. Upon request by the

13 state tax commission, a corporation, partnership, limited liabil-

14 ity company, limited liability partnership, or other legal entity

15 shall furnish proof within 45 days that a transfer meets the

16 requirements of this subdivision. A corporation, partnership,

17 limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or

18 other legal entity that fails to comply with a request by the

19 state tax commission under this subdivision is subject to a fine

20 of $200.00.

21 (m) A direct or indirect transfer of real property or other

22 ownership interests resulting from a transaction that qualifies

23 as a tax-free reorganization under section 368 of the internal

24 revenue code of 1986. , 26 U.S.C. 368. Upon request by the

25 state tax commission, a property owner shall furnish proof within

26 45 days that a transfer meets the requirements of this

27 subdivision. A property owner who fails to comply with a request

05309'99 *

34

1 by the state tax commission under this subdivision is subject to

2 a fine of $200.00.

3 (8) The register of deeds of the county where deeds or other

4 title documents are recorded shall notify the APPLICABLE assess-

5 ing officer of the appropriate local taxing unit not less than

6 once each month of any recorded transaction involving the owner-

7 ship of property and shall make any recorded deeds or other title

8 documents available to that county's tax or equalization

9 department. Unless notification is provided under subsection

10 (6), the buyer, grantee, or other transferee of the property

11 shall notify the appropriate assessing office in the local unit

12 of government in which the property is located of the transfer of

13 ownership of the property within 45 days of the transfer of

14 ownership, on a form prescribed by the state tax commission that

15 states the parties to the transfer, the date of the transfer, the

16 actual consideration for the transfer, and the property's parcel

17 identification number or legal description. Forms filed in the

18 assessing office of a local unit of government under this subsec-

19 tion shall be made available to the county tax or equalization

20 department for the county in which that local unit of government

21 is located. This subsection does not apply to personal property

22 except buildings described in section 14(6) and personal property

23 described in section 8(h), (i), and (j).

24 (9) As used in this section:

25 (a) "Additions" means that term as defined in section 34d.

05309'99 *

35

1 (b) "Beneficial use" means the right to possession, use, and

2 enjoyment of property, limited only by encumbrances, easements,

3 and restrictions of record.

4 (c) "Inflation rate" means that term as defined in section

5 34d.

6 (d) "Losses" means that term as defined in section 34d.

7 Sec. 27b. (1) If the buyer, grantee, or other transferee in

8 the immediately preceding transfer of ownership of property does

9 not notify the appropriate APPLICABLE assessing office

10 OFFICER as required by UNDER section 27a(8) OR, FOR QUALIFIED

11 AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY, UNDER SECTION 27E, the property's taxable

12 value shall be adjusted under section 27a(3) OR, FOR QUALIFIED

13 AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY, UNDER SECTION 27E(3) and all of the fol-

14 lowing shall be levied:

15 (a) Any additional taxes that would have been levied if the

16 transfer of ownership had been recorded as required under this

17 act from the date of transfer.

18 (b) Interest and penalty from the date the tax would have

19 been originally levied.

20 (c) A penalty of $5.00 per day for each separate failure

21 beginning after the 45 days have elapsed, up to a maximum of

22 $200.00.

23 (2) The appropriate APPLICABLE assessing officer shall

24 certify for collection to the treasurer of the local tax collect-

25 ing unit if the local tax collecting unit has possession of the

26 tax roll or the county treasurer if the county has possession of

05309'99 *

36

1 the tax roll any additional taxes due under subsection (1)(a) and

2 any penalty due under subsection (1)(c).

3 (3) The treasurer of the local tax collecting unit if the

4 local tax collecting unit has possession of the tax roll or the

5 county treasurer if the county has possession of the tax roll

6 shall collect any taxes, interest, and penalty due pursuant to

7 this section, and shall immediately prepare and submit a cor-

8 rected tax bill for any additional taxes due under subsection

9 (1)(a) and any interest and penalty due under subsection (1)(b).

10 A penalty due under subsection (1)(c) may be collected with the

11 immediately succeeding regular tax bill.

12 (4) Any taxes, interest, and penalty collected pursuant to

13 subsection (1)(a) and (b) shall be distributed in the same manner

14 as other delinquent taxes, interest, and penalties are distrib-

15 uted under this act. Any penalty collected under

16 subsection (1)(c) shall be distributed to the local tax collect-

17 ing unit.

18 (5) The governing body of a local tax collecting unit may

19 waive, by resolution, the penalty levied under subsection

20 (1)(c).

21 (6) If the taxable value of property is increased under this

22 section, the appropriate APPLICABLE assessing officer shall

23 immediately notify by first-class mail the owner of that property

24 of that increase in taxable value. A buyer, grantee, or other

25 transferee may appeal any increase in taxable value or the levy

26 of any additional taxes, interest, and penalties under

27 subsection (1) to the Michigan tax tribunal within 35 days of

05309'99 *

37

1 receiving the notice of the increase in the property's taxable

2 value. An appeal under this subsection is limited to the issues

3 of whether a transfer of ownership has occurred and correcting

4 arithmetic errors. A dispute regarding the valuation of the

5 property is not a basis for appeal under this subsection.

6 (7) If the taxable value of property is adjusted under sub-

7 section (1), the APPLICABLE assessing officer making the adjust-

8 ment shall file an affidavit with all officials responsible for

9 determining assessment figures, rate of taxation, or mathematical

10 calculations for that property within 30 days of the date the

11 adjustment is made. The affidavit shall state the amount of the

12 adjustment and the amount of additional taxes levied. The offi-

13 cials with whom the affidavit is filed shall correct all official

14 records for which they are responsible to reflect the adjustment

15 and levy.

16 Sec. 27c. If the buyer, grantee, or other transferee in any

17 preceding transfer of ownership of property does not notify the

18 appropriate APPLICABLE assessing office OFFICER as required

19 by section 27a(8) OR, FOR QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY, UNDER

20 SECTION 27E(5), a taxing unit may sue that buyer, grantee, or

21 other transferee as provided in section 47 for all of the

22 following:

23 (a) Any additional taxes that would have been levied if the

24 transfer of ownership had been recorded as required under this

25 act from the date of transfer.

26 (b) Interest and penalty from the date the tax would have

27 been originally levied.

05309'99 *

38

1 (c) A penalty of $5.00 per day for each separate failure

2 beginning after the 45 days have elapsed, up to a maximum of

3 $200.00.

4 SEC. 27E. (1) EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION,

5 BEGINNING DECEMBER 31, 2000, PROPERTY THAT IS QUALIFIED AGRICUL-

6 TURAL PROPERTY SHALL BE ASSESSED AT 50% OF ITS AGRICULTURAL USE

7 VALUE UNDER SECTION 3 OF ARTICLE IX OF THE STATE CONSTITUTION OF

8 1963.

9 (2) EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (3), FOR

10 TAXES LEVIED IN 2000 AND FOR EACH YEAR AFTER 2000, THE TAXABLE

11 VALUE OF EACH PARCEL OF QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY IS THE

12 LESSER OF THE FOLLOWING:

13 (A) THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY'S TAXABLE VALUE IN

14 THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING YEAR MINUS ANY LOSSES, MULTIPLIED BY

15 THE LESSER OF 1.05 OR THE INFLATION RATE, PLUS ALL ADDITIONS.

16 (B) THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY'S CURRENT AGRICUL-

17 TURAL USE VALUE.

18 (C) THE TAXABLE VALUE THE PROPERTY WOULD HAVE HAD IF THE

19 PROPERTY'S TAXABLE VALUE HAD BEEN DETERMINED UNDER SECTION 27A.

20 (3) UPON A TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL

21 PROPERTY AND IF THE PROPERTY REMAINS QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROP-

22 ERTY, THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY'S TAXABLE VALUE FOR THE

23 CALENDAR YEAR FOLLOWING THE YEAR OF THE TRANSFER IS THE

24 PROPERTY'S TAXABLE VALUE FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR IMMEDIATELY PRE-

25 CEDING THE TRANSFER ADJUSTED UNDER SUBSECTION (2).

26 (4) UPON A TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL

27 PROPERTY AND IF THE PROPERTY DOES NOT REMAIN QUALIFIED

05309'99 *

39

1 AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY, THE TAXABLE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY SHALL BE

2 ADJUSTED UNDER SECTION 27A(3).

3 (5) THE REGISTER OF DEEDS OF THE COUNTY WHERE DEEDS OR OTHER

4 TITLE DOCUMENTS ARE RECORDED SHALL NOTIFY THE COUNTY EQUALIZATION

5 DIRECTOR NOT LESS THAN ONCE EACH MONTH OF ANY RECORDED TRANSAC-

6 TION INVOLVING THE OWNERSHIP OF QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY

7 AND SHALL MAKE ANY RECORDED DEEDS OR OTHER TITLE DOCUMENTS AVAIL-

8 ABLE TO THAT COUNTY'S TAX OR EQUALIZATION DEPARTMENT. THE BUYER,

9 GRANTEE, OR OTHER TRANSFEREE OF THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROP-

10 ERTY SHALL NOTIFY THE COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIRECTOR IN THE COUNTY

11 IN WHICH THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY IS LOCATED OF THE

12 TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY

13 WITHIN 45 DAYS OF THE TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP, ON A FORM PRESCRIBED

14 BY THE STATE TAX COMMISSION THAT STATES THE PARTIES TO THE TRANS-

15 FER, THE DATE OF THE TRANSFER, THE ACTUAL CONSIDERATION FOR THE

16 TRANSFER, AND THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY'S PARCEL IDEN-

17 TIFICATION NUMBER OR LEGAL DESCRIPTION. FORMS FILED IN THE

18 ASSESSING OFFICE OF A COUNTY UNDER THIS SUBSECTION SHALL BE MADE

19 AVAILABLE TO THE COUNTY TAX OR EQUALIZATION DEPARTMENT FOR THAT

20 COUNTY. THIS SUBSECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO PERSONAL PROPERTY

21 EXCEPT BUILDINGS DESCRIBED IN SECTION 14(6) AND PERSONAL PROPERTY

22 DESCRIBED IN SECTION 8(H), (I), AND (J).

23 (6) THE OWNER OF QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY SHALL

24 RESCIND THE EXEMPTION PURSUANT TO SECTION 7EE(5) IF PROPERTY

25 EXEMPT AS QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY IS NO LONGER QUALIFIED

26 AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY.

05309'99 *

40

1 (7) AS USED IN THIS SECTION:

2 (A) "ADDITIONS" MEANS THAT TERM AS DEFINED IN SECTION 34D.

3 (B) "AGRICULTURAL USE VALUE" MEANS THAT VALUE CALCULATED

4 USING THE METHOD DETERMINED BY THE STATE TAX COMMISSION AFTER

5 CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. THE METHOD

6 SHALL NOT INCLUDE SALES OF COMPARABLE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL

7 PROPERTY. THE METHOD SHALL INCLUDE, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, ALL

8 OF THE FOLLOWING CONSIDERATIONS:

9 (i) EVIDENCE OF THE PRODUCTIVE CAPABILITY OF THE QUALIFIED

10 AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY FOR AGRICULTURAL USE, INCLUDING SOIL

11 CHARACTERISTICS.

12 (ii) THE AVERAGE ANNUAL NET RETURN IN THE IMMEDIATELY PRE-

13 CEDING 5-YEAR PERIOD FOR TYPICAL AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY LOCATED IN

14 THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY IS

15 LOCATED, DISCOUNTED BY AN APPROPRIATE INTEREST RATE.

16 (iii) THE AVERAGE RENTAL INCOME FOR TYPICAL AGRICULTURAL

17 PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE QUALIFIED AGRICUL-

18 TURAL PROPERTY IS LOCATED.

19 (C) "BENEFICIAL USE" MEANS THE RIGHT TO POSSESSION, USE, AND

20 ENJOYMENT OF PROPERTY, LIMITED ONLY BY ENCUMBRANCES, EASEMENTS,

21 AND RESTRICTIONS OF RECORD.

22 (D) "INFLATION RATE" MEANS THAT TERM AS DEFINED IN SECTION

23 34D.

24 (E) "LOSSES" MEANS THAT TERM AS DEFINED IN SECTION 34D.

25 (F) "QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY" MEANS PROPERTY EXEMPT

26 FROM THE TAX LEVIED BY A LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR SCHOOL

27 OPERATING PURPOSES UNDER SECTION 7EE.

05309'99 *

41

1 (G) "TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP" MEANS THAT TERM AS DEFINED IN

2 SECTION 27A.

3 SEC. 28A. (1) THOSE ELECTORS OF THE COUNTY APPOINTED BY THE

4 COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SHALL CONSTITUTE A QUALIFIED AGRI-

5 CULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW FOR THE COUNTY. AT LEAST 2/3

6 OF THE MEMBERS SHALL BE PROPERTY TAXPAYERS OF THE COUNTY.

7 MEMBERS APPOINTED TO THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF

8 REVIEW SHALL SERVE FOR TERMS OF 2 YEARS BEGINNING AT NOON ON

9 JANUARY 1 OF EACH ODD NUMBERED YEAR. EACH MEMBER OF THE QUALI-

10 FIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW SHALL QUALIFY BY

11 TAKING THE CONSTITUTIONAL OATH OF OFFICE WITHIN 10 DAYS AFTER

12 APPOINTMENT. THE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MAY FILL ANY

13 VACANCY THAT OCCURS IN THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE QUALIFIED AGRICUL-

14 TURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW. A MEMBER OF THE COUNTY BOARD OF

15 COMMISSIONERS IS NOT ELIGIBLE TO SERVE ON THE QUALIFIED AGRICUL-

16 TURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW OR TO FILL ANY VACANCY. A SPOUSE,

17 MOTHER, FATHER, SISTER, BROTHER, SON, OR DAUGHTER, INCLUDING AN

18 ADOPTED CHILD, OF THE COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIRECTOR IS NOT ELIGI-

19 BLE TO SERVE ON THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF

20 REVIEW OR TO FILL ANY VACANCY. A MAJORITY OF THE QUALIFIED AGRI-

21 CULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW CONSTITUTES A QUORUM FOR THE

22 TRANSACTION OF BUSINESS, BUT A LESSER NUMBER MAY ADJOURN AND A

23 MAJORITY VOTE OF THOSE PRESENT SHALL DECIDE ALL QUESTIONS. AT

24 LEAST 2 MEMBERS OF A 3-MEMBER QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY

25 BOARD OF REVIEW SHALL BE PRESENT TO CONDUCT ANY BUSINESS OR HEAR-

26 INGS OF THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW.

05309'99 *

42

1 (2) THE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MAY APPOINT 3, 6, OR 9

2 ELECTORS OF THE COUNTY, WHO SHALL CONSTITUTE A QUALIFIED

3 AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW FOR THE COUNTY. IF 6 OR 9

4 MEMBERS ARE APPOINTED AS PROVIDED IN THIS SUBSECTION, THE MEMBER-

5 SHIP OF THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW SHALL

6 BE DIVIDED INTO QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW

7 COMMITTEES CONSISTING OF 3 MEMBERS EACH FOR THE PURPOSE OF HEAR-

8 ING AND DECIDING ISSUES PROTESTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 30D. TWO

9 OF THE 3 MEMBERS OF A QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF

10 REVIEW COMMITTEE CONSTITUTE A QUORUM FOR THE TRANSACTION OF THE

11 BUSINESS OF THE COMMITTEE. ALL MEETINGS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE

12 QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW AND COMMITTEES

13 SHALL BE HELD DURING THE SAME HOURS OF THE SAME DAY AND AT THE

14 SAME LOCATION. A MAJORITY OF THE ENTIRE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL

15 PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW MEMBERSHIP SHALL ENDORSE THE ASSESSMENT

16 ROLL FOR QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY AS PROVIDED IN SECTION

17 30D. THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE QUALIFIED AGRICUL-

18 TURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW CONTAINED IN SECTION 29A SHALL BE

19 CARRIED OUT BY THE ENTIRE MEMBERSHIP OF THE QUALIFIED AGRICUL-

20 TURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW AND A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERSHIP

21 CONSTITUTES A QUORUM FOR THOSE PURPOSES.

22 SEC. 29A. (1) ON THE TUESDAY IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE

23 FIRST MONDAY IN MARCH, THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD

24 OF REVIEW OF EACH COUNTY SHALL MEET AT THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY

25 EQUALIZATION DIRECTOR, AT WHICH TIME THE COUNTY EQUALIZATION

26 DIRECTOR SHALL SUBMIT TO THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY

27 BOARD OF REVIEW THE ASSESSMENT ROLL FOR ALL QUALIFIED

05309'99 *

43

1 AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY IN THE COUNTY FOR THE CURRENT YEAR, AS

2 PREPARED BY THE COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIRECTOR, AND THE QUALIFIED

3 AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW SHALL PROCEED TO EXAMINE

4 AND REVIEW THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENT ROLL.

5 (2) DURING THAT DAY, AND THE DAY FOLLOWING, IF NECESSARY,

6 THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW, ON ITS OWN

7 MOTION OR IF SUFFICIENT CAUSE IS SHOWN BY A PERSON, SHALL ADD TO

8 THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENT ROLL THE NAMES OF

9 PERSONS AND THE DESCRIPTION AND VALUE OF QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL

10 PROPERTY SUBJECT TO ASSESSMENT IN THE COUNTY THAT HAD BEEN

11 OMITTED FROM THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENT

12 ROLL. THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW SHALL

13 CORRECT ERRORS IN THE NAMES OF PERSONS, IN THE DESCRIPTIONS OF

14 QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY UPON THE ROLL, AND IN THE ASSESS-

15 MENT AND VALUATION OF QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY. THE QUAL-

16 IFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW SHALL DO WHATEVER

17 ELSE IS NECESSARY TO MAKE THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY

18 ROLL COMPLY WITH THIS ACT.

19 (3) THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY ROLL SHALL BE

20 REVIEWED ACCORDING TO THE FACTS EXISTING ON THE TAX DAY. THE

21 QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW SHALL NOT ADD TO

22 THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY ROLL QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL

23 PROPERTY NOT SUBJECT TO TAXATION ON THE TAX DAY, AND THE QUALI-

24 FIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW SHALL NOT REMOVE FROM

25 THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY ROLL QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL

26 PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION ON THE TAX DAY REGARDLESS OF A

05309'99 *

44

1 CHANGE IN THE TAXABLE STATUS OF THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL

2 PROPERTY SINCE TAX DAY.

3 (4) THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW

4 SHALL PASS UPON EACH VALUATION AND EACH INTEREST, AND SHALL ENTER

5 THE VALUATION OF EACH, AS FIXED BY THE BOARD, IN A SEPARATE

6 COLUMN.

7 (5) THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENT ROLL AS

8 PREPARED BY THE COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIRECTOR SHALL STAND AS

9 APPROVED AND ADOPTED AS THE ACT OF THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL

10 PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW, EXCEPT AS CHANGED BY A VOTE OF THE

11 QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW. IF FOR ANY

12 CAUSE A QUORUM DOES NOT ASSEMBLE DURING THE PERIOD PRESCRIBED

13 UNDER THIS SECTION, THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY ASSESS-

14 MENT ROLL AS PREPARED BY THE COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIRECTOR SHALL

15 STAND AS IF APPROVED BY THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD

16 OF REVIEW.

17 (6) THE BUSINESS THAT THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY

18 BOARD OF REVIEW MAY PERFORM SHALL BE CONDUCTED AT A PUBLIC MEET-

19 ING OF THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW HELD

20 IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261

21 TO 15.275. PUBLIC NOTICE OF THE TIME, DATE, AND PLACE OF THE

22 MEETING SHALL BE GIVEN IN THE MANNER REQUIRED BY THE OPEN MEET-

23 INGS ACT, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 TO 15.275. NOTICE OF THE DATE,

24 TIME, AND PLACE OF THE MEETING OF THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL

25 PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW SHALL BE GIVEN AT LEAST 1 WEEK BEFORE

26 THE MEETING BY PUBLICATION IN A GENERALLY CIRCULATED NEWSPAPER

27 SERVING THE COUNTY. THE NOTICE SHALL APPEAR IN 3 SUCCESSIVE

05309'99 *

45

1 ISSUES OF THE NEWSPAPER IF AVAILABLE OR, IF NO NEWSPAPER IS

2 AVAILABLE, THE NOTICE SHALL BE POSTED IN 5 CONSPICUOUS PLACES IN

3 THE COUNTY.

4 (7) WHEN THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW

5 MAKES A CHANGE IN THE ASSESSMENT OF QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROP-

6 ERTY OR ADDS QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY TO THE QUALIFIED

7 AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENT ROLL, THE PERSON CHARGEABLE WITH

8 THE ASSESSMENT SHALL BE PROMPTLY NOTIFIED IN A MANNER THAT WILL

9 ASSURE THE PERSON OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE SECOND MEETING OF THE

10 QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW PROVIDED IN SEC-

11 TION 30D.

12 SEC. 30D. (1) THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF

13 REVIEW SHALL MEET ON THE SECOND MONDAY IN MARCH AT 9 A.M., AND

14 CONTINUE IN SESSION DURING THE DAY FOR NOT LESS THAN 6 HOURS.

15 THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW SHALL ALSO

16 MEET FOR NOT LESS THAN 6 HOURS DURING THE REMAINDER OF THAT

17 WEEK. PERSONS OR THEIR AGENTS WHO HAVE APPEARED TO FILE A PRO-

18 TEST BEFORE THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW

19 AT A SCHEDULED MEETING OR AT A SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT SHALL BE

20 AFFORDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD BY THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL

21 PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW. THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY

22 BOARD OF REVIEW SHALL SCHEDULE A FINAL MEETING AFTER THE QUALI-

23 FIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW MAKES A CHANGE IN THE

24 ASSESSED VALUE, AGRICULTURAL USE VALUE, OR TENTATIVE TAXABLE

25 VALUE OF QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY OR ADDS QUALIFIED AGRI-

26 CULTURAL PROPERTY TO THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY

27 ASSESSMENT ROLL. IN A COUNTY WITH A POPULATION OF 10,000 OR

05309'99 *

46

1 MORE, THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW SHALL

2 HOLD AT LEAST 3 HOURS OF ITS REQUIRED SESSIONS FOR REVIEW OF THE

3 QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENT ROLL DURING THE WEEK

4 OF THE SECOND MONDAY IN MARCH AFTER 6 P.M.

5 (2) A QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW SHALL

6 MEET A TOTAL OF AT LEAST 12 HOURS DURING THE WEEK BEGINNING THE

7 SECOND MONDAY IN MARCH TO HEAR PROTESTS. AT THE REQUEST OF A

8 PERSON WHOSE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY IS ASSESSED ON THE

9 QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENT ROLL OR OF HIS OR HER

10 AGENT, AND ON SUFFICIENT CAUSE BEING SHOWN, THE QUALIFIED AGRI-

11 CULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW SHALL CORRECT THE ASSESSED

12 VALUE, AGRICULTURAL USE VALUE, OR TENTATIVE TAXABLE VALUE OF THE

13 QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY, IN A MANNER AS IN THEIR JUDGMENT

14 WILL MAKE THE VALUATION OF THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY

15 RELATIVELY JUST AND PROPER UNDER THIS ACT. THE QUALIFIED AGRI-

16 CULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW MAY EXAMINE ON OATH THE PERSON

17 MAKING THE APPLICATION, OR ANY OTHER PERSON CONCERNING THE

18 MATTER. A MEMBER OF THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF

19 REVIEW MAY ADMINISTER THE OATH. A NONRESIDENT TAXPAYER MAY FILE

20 HIS OR HER APPEARANCE, PROTEST, AND PAPERS IN SUPPORT OF THE PRO-

21 TEST BY LETTER, AND HIS OR HER PERSONAL APPEARANCE IS NOT

22 REQUIRED. THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW,

23 UPON ITS OWN MOTION, MAY CHANGE ASSESSED VALUES, AGRICULTURAL USE

24 VALUES, OR TENTATIVE TAXABLE VALUES OR ADD TO THE QUALIFIED AGRI-

25 CULTURAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENT ROLL QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY

26 OMITTED FROM THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENT ROLL

27 THAT IS LIABLE TO ASSESSMENT IN THE COUNTY, IF THE PERSON WHO IS

05309'99 *

47

1 ASSESSED UPON THE ALTERED VALUATION OR FOR THE OMITTED QUALIFIED

2 AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY IS PROMPTLY NOTIFIED AND GRANTED AN OPPOR-

3 TUNITY TO FILE OBJECTIONS TO THE CHANGE IN HIS OR HER ASSESSED

4 VALUE, AGRICULTURAL USE VALUE, OR TENTATIVE TAXABLE VALUE OR TO

5 THE ADDITION OF HIS OR HER QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY TO THE

6 QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENT ROLL AT THE MEETING OR

7 AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING. AN OBJECTION SHALL BE PROMPTLY HEARD

8 AND DETERMINED. EACH PERSON WHO MAKES A REQUEST, PROTEST, OR

9 APPLICATION TO THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF

10 REVIEW FOR THE CORRECTION OF THE ASSESSED VALUE, AGRICULTURAL USE

11 VALUE, OR TENTATIVE TAXABLE VALUE OF THE PERSON'S QUALIFIED AGRI-

12 CULTURAL PROPERTY SHALL BE NOTIFIED IN WRITING, NOT LATER THAN

13 THE FIRST MONDAY IN JUNE, OF THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY

14 BOARD OF REVIEW'S ACTION ON THE REQUEST, PROTEST, OR APPLICATION,

15 OF THE STATE EQUALIZED VALUATION, AGRICULTURAL USE VALUE, OR TEN-

16 TATIVE TAXABLE VALUE OF THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY, AND

17 OF INFORMATION REGARDING THE RIGHT OF FURTHER APPEAL TO THE TAX

18 TRIBUNAL. INFORMATION REGARDING THE RIGHT OF FURTHER APPEAL TO

19 THE TAX TRIBUNAL SHALL INCLUDE, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, A STATE-

20 MENT OF THE RIGHT TO APPEAL TO THE TAX TRIBUNAL, THE ADDRESS OF

21 THE TAX TRIBUNAL, AND THE FINAL DATE FOR FILING AN APPEAL WITH

22 THE TAX TRIBUNAL.

23 (3) THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW

24 SHALL COMPLETE ITS REVIEW OF THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY

25 ASSESSMENT ROLL NOT LATER THAN THE FIRST MONDAY IN APRIL. AFTER

26 THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW COMPLETES THE

27 REVIEW OF THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENT ROLL, A

05309'99 *

48

1 MAJORITY OF THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW

2 SHALL INDORSE THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENT ROLL

3 AND SIGN A STATEMENT TO THE EFFECT THAT THE QUALIFIED AGRICUL-

4 TURAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENT ROLL IS THE ASSESSMENT ROLL OF THE

5 QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY IN THAT COUNTY FOR THE YEAR IN

6 WHICH IT HAS BEEN PREPARED AND APPROVED BY THE QUALIFIED AGRICUL-

7 TURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW.

8 (4) THE COMPLETED QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENT

9 ROLL SHALL BE DELIVERED TO THE COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIRECTOR NOT

10 LATER THAN THE TENTH DAY AFTER THE ADJOURNMENT OF THE QUALIFIED

11 AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW, OR THE WEDNESDAY FOLLOWING

12 THE FIRST MONDAY IN APRIL, WHICHEVER DATE OCCURS FIRST.

13 (5) THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MAY AUTHORIZE, BY

14 ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION, A RESIDENT TAXPAYER TO

15 FILE HIS OR HER PROTEST BEFORE THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROP-

16 ERTY BOARD OF REVIEW BY LETTER WITHOUT A PERSONAL APPEARANCE BY

17 THE TAXPAYER OR HIS OR HER AGENT. IF THAT ORDINANCE OR RESOLU-

18 TION IS ADOPTED, THE COUNTY SHALL INCLUDE A STATEMENT NOTIFYING

19 TAXPAYERS OF THIS OPTION IN EACH ASSESSMENT NOTICE UNDER SECTION

20 24C AND ON EACH NOTICE OR PUBLICATION OF THE MEETING OF THE QUAL-

21 IFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW.

22 SEC. 30E. (1) IF A TAXPAYER HAS THE ASSESSED VALUE, AGRI-

23 CULTURAL USE VALUE, OR TAXABLE VALUE REDUCED ON HIS OR HER QUALI-

24 FIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY AS A RESULT OF A PROTEST TO THE QUALI-

25 FIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW UNDER SECTION 30D, THE

26 COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIRECTOR SHALL USE THAT REDUCED AMOUNT AS THE

27 BASIS FOR CALCULATING THE ASSESSMENT OF THAT QUALIFIED

05309'99 *

49

1 AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY IN THE IMMEDIATELY SUCCEEDING YEAR.

2 HOWEVER, THE TAXABLE VALUE OF THAT QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROP-

3 ERTY IN A TAX YEAR IMMEDIATELY SUCCEEDING A TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP

4 OF THAT QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY SHALL BE DETERMINED UNDER

5 SECTION 27E.

6 (2) IF A TAXPAYER APPEARS BEFORE THE TAX TRIBUNAL DURING THE

7 SAME TAX YEAR FOR WHICH THE STATE EQUALIZED VALUATION, ASSESSED

8 VALUE, AGRICULTURAL USE VALUE, OR TAXABLE VALUE OF QUALIFIED

9 AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY IS APPEALED AND HAS THE STATE EQUALIZED

10 VALUATION, ASSESSED VALUE, AGRICULTURAL USE VALUE, OR TAXABLE

11 VALUE OF HIS OR HER QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY REDUCED PUR-

12 SUANT TO A FINAL ORDER OF THE TAX TRIBUNAL, THE COUNTY EQUALIZA-

13 TION DIRECTOR SHALL USE THE REDUCED STATE EQUALIZED VALUATION,

14 ASSESSED VALUE, AGRICULTURAL USE VALUE, OR TAXABLE VALUE AS THE

15 BASIS FOR CALCULATING THE ASSESSMENT OF THAT QUALIFIED AGRICUL-

16 TURAL PROPERTY IN THE IMMEDIATELY SUCCEEDING YEAR. HOWEVER, THE

17 TAXABLE VALUE OF THAT QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY IN A TAX

18 YEAR IMMEDIATELY SUCCEEDING A TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF THAT QUAL-

19 IFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY SHALL BE DETERMINED UNDER SECTION

20 27E.

21 Sec. 31. Upon the completion of said COMPLETING AND CER-

22 TIFYING THE REVIEW OF AN ASSESSMENT roll and its endorsement in

23 manner aforesaid, the same shall be AS PROVIDED UNDER THIS ACT,

24 THAT ASSESSMENT ROLL IS conclusively presumed by all courts and

25 tribunals to be valid, and shall not be set aside except for

26 causes hereinafter mentioned AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THIS ACT.

05309'99 *

50

1 The omission of such indorsement THE CERTIFICATION shall not

2 affect the validity of such AN ASSESSMENT roll.

3 SEC. 32A. IF FROM ANY CAUSE A QUORUM IS NOT PRESENT AT ANY

4 MEETING OF THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW,

5 THE COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIRECTOR, OR, IN HIS OR HER ABSENCE, ANY

6 OTHER MEMBER OF THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF

7 REVIEW PRESENT, SHALL NOTIFY EACH ABSENT MEMBER TO ATTEND AT

8 ONCE, AND THE MEMBER NOTIFIED SHALL ATTEND WITHOUT DELAY. IF FOR

9 ANY REASON THE SECOND MEETING OF THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROP-

10 ERTY BOARD OF REVIEW PROVIDED FOR UNDER THIS ACT IS NOT HELD AT

11 THE TIME FIXED FOR THAT MEETING, THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROP-

12 ERTY BOARD OF REVIEW SHALL MEET ON THE IMMEDIATELY SUCCEEDING

13 MONDAY AND PROCEED IN THE SAME MANNER AND WITH THE SAME POWERS AS

14 IF THAT MEETING HAD BEEN HELD AS PROVIDED UNDER THIS ACT.

15 SEC. 33A. THE COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIRECTOR IS THE SECRETARY

16 OF THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW AND SHALL

17 KEEP A RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL

18 PROPERTY BOARD OF REVIEW AND OF ALL THE CHANGES MADE IN THE QUAL-

19 IFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENT ROLL. THE COUNTY EQUALI-

20 ZATION DIRECTOR SHALL FILE THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY

21 ASSESSMENT ROLL WITH THE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WITH THE

22 STATEMENTS MADE BY PERSONS ASSESSED. IN THE ABSENCE OF THE

23 COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIRECTOR, THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY

24 BOARD OF REVIEW SHALL APPOINT 1 OF ITS MEMBERS TO SERVE AS

25 SECRETARY. THE STATE TAX COMMISSION MAY PRESCRIBE THE FORM OF

26 THE RECORD WHENEVER NECESSARY.

05309'99 *

51

1 Sec. 34. (1) The county board of commissioners in each

2 county shall meet in April each year to determine THE county

3 equalized value, which equalization shall be completed and sub-

4 mitted along with the tabular statement required by section 5 of

5 Act No. 44 of the Public Acts of 1911, being section 209.5 of

6 the Michigan Compiled Laws 1911 PA 44, MCL 209.5, to the state

7 tax commission before the first Monday in May. The business

8 which THAT the COUNTY board OF COMMISSIONERS may perform shall

9 be conducted at a public meeting of the COUNTY board OF

10 COMMISSIONERS held in compliance with the open meetings act, Act

11 No. 267 of the Public Acts of 1976, as amended, being sections

12 15.261 to 15.275 of the Michigan Compiled Laws 1976 PA 267, MCL

13 15.261 TO 15.275. Public notice of the time, date, and place of

14 the meeting shall be given in the manner required by Act No. 267

15 of the Public Acts of 1976, as amended THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT,

16 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 TO 15.275. Each year the county board of

17 commissioners shall advise the local taxing units when IF the

18 state tax commission increases the equalized value of the county

19 as established by the board of county BOARD OF commissioners

20 and each taxing unit other than a city, township, school dis-

21 trict, intermediate school district, or community college dis-

22 trict, shall immediately reduce its maximum authorized millage

23 rate, as determined after any reduction caused by PURSUANT TO

24 section 34d, so that subsequent to AFTER the increase ordered

25 by the state tax commission pursuant to Act No. 44 of the Public

26 Acts of 1911, as amended, being sections 209.1 to 209.8 of the

27 Michigan Compiled Laws 1911 PA 44, MCL 209.1 TO 209.8, total

05309'99 *

52

1 property taxes levied for that unit shall not exceed that which

2 would have been levied for that unit at its maximum authorized

3 millage rate, as determined after any reduction caused by

4 PURSUANT TO section 34d, if there had not been an increase in

5 valuation by the state TAX COMMISSION. If its state equalized

6 valuation exceeds its assessed valuation by 5.0% or more in 1982

7 or by any amount in 1983 or any year thereafter AFTER 1983, a

8 city or township shall reduce its maximum authorized millage

9 rate, as determined after any reduction caused by PURSUANT TO

10 section 34d, so that total property taxes levied for that unit do

11 not exceed that which would have been levied based on its

12 assessed valuation.

13 (2) The county board of commissioners shall examine the

14 assessment rolls of the townships or cities AND, FOR QUALIFIED

15 AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY, OF THE COUNTY and ascertain whether the

16 real and personal property in the respective townships or cities

17 AND, FOR QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY, IN THE COUNTY has been

18 equally and uniformly assessed at true cash value AS REQUIRED

19 UNDER THIS ACT. If, on the examination, the county board of com-

20 missioners considers the assessments to be relatively unequal, it

21 shall equalize the assessments by adding to or deducting from the

22 valuation of the taxable property in a township or city an

23 amount which THAT in the judgment of the county board of com-

24 missioners will produce a sum which THAT represents the true

25 cash value of that property AND, FOR QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROP-

26 ERTY, THE AGRICULTURAL USE VALUE, and the amount added to or

27 deducted from the valuations in a township or city shall be

05309'99 *

53

1 entered upon the records. The county board of commissioners and

2 the state tax commission shall equalize real and personal prop-

3 erty separately by adding to or deducting from the valuation of

4 taxable real property, and by adding to or deducting from the

5 valuation of taxable personal property in a township, city, or

6 county, an amount which THAT will produce a sum which THAT

7 represents the proportion of true cash value established by the

8 legislature AND, FOR QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY, THE AGRI-

9 CULTURAL USE VALUE. Beginning December 31, 1980, the county

10 board of commissioners and the state tax commission shall equal-

11 ize separately the following classes of real property by adding

12 to or deducting from the valuation of agricultural,

13 developmental, residential, commercial, industrial, and timber

14 cutover taxable real property, and by adding to or deducting from

15 the valuation of taxable personal property in a township, city,

16 or county, an amount as THAT will produce a sum which THAT

17 represents the proportion of true cash value established by the

18 legislature AND, FOR QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY, THE AGRI-

19 CULTURAL USE VALUE. The tax roll and the tax statement shall

20 clearly set forth the latest state equalized valuation for each

21 item or property, which shall be determined by using a separate

22 factor for personal property and a separate factor for real prop-

23 erty as equalized. Beginning December 31, 1980, the tax roll and

24 the tax statement shall clearly set forth the latest state equal-

25 ized valuation for each item or property, which shall be deter-

26 mined by using a separate factor for personal property and a

27 separate factor for each classification for real property as

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54

1 equalized. Factors used in determining the state equalized

2 valuation for real and personal property on the tax roll shall be

3 rounded up to not less than 4 decimal places. Equalized values

4 for both real and personal property shall be equalized uniformly

5 at the same proportion of true cash value in the county. The

6 county board of commissioners shall also cause to be entered upon

7 its records the aggregate valuation of the taxable real and per-

8 sonal property of each township or city in its county as deter-

9 mined by the county board OF COMMISSIONERS. The county board of

10 commissioners shall also make alterations in the description of

11 any land PROPERTY on the rolls as is necessary to render the

12 descriptions conformable to the requirements of this act. After

13 the rolls are equalized, each shall be certified to by the

14 chairperson and the clerk of the COUNTY board OF COMMISSIONERS

15 and be delivered to the supervisor of the proper township or

16 city, who shall file and keep the roll in his or her office.

17 (3) The county board of commissioners of a county shall

18 establish and maintain a department to survey assessments and

19 assist the board of commissioners in the matter of equalization

20 of assessments, and may employ in that department NECESSARY tech-

21 nical and clerical personnel. which in its judgment are consid-

22 ered necessary. The personnel of the department shall be under

23 the direct supervision and control of a director of the tax or

24 equalization department who may designate an employee of the

25 department as his or her deputy. The director of the county tax

26 or equalization department shall be appointed by the county board

27 of commissioners. The county board of commissioners, through the

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55

1 department, may furnish assistance to local assessing officers in

2 the performance of duties imposed upon those officers by UNDER

3 this act, including the development and maintenance of accurate

4 property descriptions, the discovery, listing, and valuation of

5 properties for tax purposes, and the development and use of uni-

6 form valuation standards and techniques for the assessment of

7 property. AS USED IN THIS ACT, "COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIRECTOR"

8 MEANS THE DIRECTOR OF THE COUNTY TAX OR EQUALIZATION DEPARTMENT

9 APPOINTED BY THE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS UNDER THIS

10 SUBSECTION.

11 (4) The supervisor of a township or, with the approval of

12 the governing body, the certified assessor of a township or city,

13 or the intermediate district board of education, or the board of

14 education of an incorporated city or village aggrieved by the

15 action of the county board of commissioners , in equalizing the

16 valuations of the townships or cities of the county , may

17 appeal from the determination to the state tax tribunal in the

18 manner provided by law. An appeal from the determination by the

19 county board of commissioners shall be filed with the clerk of

20 the tribunal by a written or printed petition which THAT shall

21 set forth in detail the reasons for taking the appeal. The peti-

22 tion shall be signed and sworn to by the supervisor, the certi-

23 fied assessor, or a majority of the members of the board of edu-

24 cation taking the appeal, shall show that a certain township,

25 city, or school district has been discriminated against in the

26 equalization, and shall pray REQUEST that the state tax

27 tribunal proceed at its earliest convenience to review the action

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56

1 from which the appeal is taken. The state tax tribunal shall

2 , upon hearing, determine if in its judgment there is a show-

3 ing that the equalization complained of is unfair, unjust, ineq-

4 uitable, or discriminatory. The state tax tribunal shall

5 have HAS the same authority to consider and pass upon the action

6 and determination of the county board of commissioners in equal-

7 izing valuations as it has to consider complaints relative to the

8 assessment and taxation of property. The state tax tribunal

9 may order the county board of commissioners to reconvene and to

10 cause the assessment rolls of the county to be brought before it,

11 may summon the commissioners of the county to give evidence in

12 relation to the equalization, and may take further action and may

13 make further investigation in the premises as it considers

14 necessary. The state tax tribunal shall fix a valuation on all

15 property of the county. If the state tax tribunal decides that

16 the determination and equalization made by the county board of

17 commissioners is correct, further action shall not be taken. If

18 the state tax tribunal, after the hearing, decides that the

19 valuations of the county were improperly equalized, it shall pro-

20 ceed to make deductions from, or additions to, the valuations of

21 the respective townships, cities, or school districts as may be

22 considered proper NECESSARY, and in so doing the tribunal shall

23 have WITH the same powers as THAT the county board of commis-

24 sioners had in the first instance. The deductions or additions

25 shall decrease or increase the state equalized valuation of the

26 local unit affected but shall not increase or decrease the total

27 state equalized valuation of the county in the case of an appeal

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57

1 under this section to the state tax tribunal. If the tax

2 tribunal finds that the valuations of a class of property in a

3 county were improperly equalized by that county and determines

4 that the total value of that class of property in the county may

5 not be at the level required by law, prior to entry of a final

6 order , the tax tribunal shall forward its findings and deter-

7 mination to the state tax commission. Within 90 days after

8 receiving the findings and determination of the tax tribunal, the

9 state tax commission shall determine whether the state equalized

10 valuation of that class of property in the county was set at the

11 level prescribed by law or should be revised to provide unifor-

12 mity among the counties and shall enter an order consistent with

13 the state tax commission's findings. The tax tribunal shall

14 enter a final order based upon the revised state equalized valua-

15 tion, if any, which THAT is adopted by the state tax

16 commission. The state tax tribunal immediately after complet-

17 ing its revision of the equalization of the valuation of the sev-

18 eral assessment districts shall report its action to the county

19 board of commissioners and board of education if the board has

20 instituted the appeal by filing its report with the clerk of the

21 county board of commissioners. The action of the state tax

22 tribunal in the premises shall constitute the equalization of

23 the county for the tax year.

24 (5) For purposes of appeals pursuant to subsection (4) in

25 1981 only, an agent of a supervisor, including an assessor, shall

26 be considered to have the authority to file and sign a petition

27 for an appeal, and any otherwise timely submitted petition in

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1 1981 by an agent of a supervisor shall be reviewed by the

2 tribunal as if submitted by the supervisor.

3 Sec. 34c. (1) Not later than the first Monday in March in

4 each year, the assessor APPLICABLE ASSESSING OFFICER shall

5 classify every item of assessable property according to the defi-

6 nitions contained in this section. Following the March board of

7 review, the assessor APPLICABLE ASSESSING OFFICER shall tabu-

8 late the total number of items and the valuations as approved by

9 the APPLICABLE board of review for each classification and for

10 the totals of real and personal property in the local tax col-

11 lecting unit. The assessor APPLICABLE ASSESSING OFFICER shall

12 transmit to the county equalization department and to the state

13 tax commission the tabulation of assessed valuations and other

14 statistical information the state tax commission considers neces-

15 sary to meet the requirements of this act and Act No. 44 of the

16 Public Acts of 1911, being sections 209.1 to 209.8 of the

17 Michigan Compiled Laws 1911 PA 44, MCL 209.1 TO 209.8.

18 (2) The classifications of assessable real property are

19 described as follows:

20 (a) Agricultural real property includes parcels used par-

21 tially or wholly for agricultural operations USE, with or with-

22 out buildings, and parcels assessed to the department of natural

23 resources and valued by the state tax commission. As used in

24 this subdivision, "agricultural operations" means the

25 following:

26 (i) Farming in all its branches, including cultivating

27 soil.

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1 (ii) Growing and harvesting any agricultural, horticultural,

2 or floricultural commodity.

3 (iii) Dairying.

4 (iv) Raising livestock, bees, fish, fur-bearing animals, or

5 poultry.

6 (v) Turf and tree farming.

7 (vi) Performing any practices on a farm incident to, or in

8 conjunction with, farming operations. A "AGRICULTURAL USE"

9 MEANS SUBSTANTIALLY UNDEVELOPED LAND DEVOTED TO THE PRODUCTION OF

10 PLANTS AND ANIMALS USEFUL TO HUMANS, INCLUDING FORAGES AND SOD

11 CROPS; GRAINS, FEED CROPS, AND FIELD CROPS; DAIRY AND DAIRY PRO-

12 DUCTS; POULTRY AND POULTRY PRODUCTS; LIVESTOCK, INCLUDING BREED-

13 ING AND GRAZING OF CATTLE, SWINE, CAPTIVE CERVIDAE, AND SIMILAR

14 ANIMALS; BERRIES; HERBS; FLOWERS; SEEDS; GRASSES; NURSERY STOCK;

15 FRUITS; VEGETABLES; CHRISTMAS TREES; AND OTHER SIMILAR USES AND

16 ACTIVITIES. AGRICULTURAL USE INCLUDES PROPERTY ENROLLED IN A

17 FEDERAL ACREAGE SET-ASIDE PROGRAM OR A FEDERAL CONSERVATION

18 PROGRAM. AGRICULTURAL USE DOES NOT INCLUDE SUBSTANTIALLY UNDE-

19 VELOPED LAND THE PRIMARY PURPOSE FOR WHICH IS THE MANAGEMENT AND

20 HARVESTING OF A WOODLOT, OR A commercial storage, processing,

21 distribution, marketing, or shipping operation. is not part of

22 agricultural operations.

23 (b) Commercial real property includes the following:

24 (i) Platted or unplatted parcels used for commercial pur-

25 poses, whether wholesale, retail, or service, with or without

26 buildings.

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1 (ii) Parcels used by fraternal societies.

2 (iii) Parcels used as golf courses, boat clubs, ski areas,

3 or apartment buildings with more than 4 units.

4 (c) Developmental real property includes parcels containing

5 more than 5 acres without buildings, or more than 15 acres with a

6 market value in excess of its value in use. Developmental real

7 property may include farm land or open space land adjacent to a

8 population center, or farm land subject to several competing val-

9 uation influences.

10 (C) (d) Industrial real property includes the following:

11 (i) Platted or unplatted parcels used for manufacturing and

12 processing purposes, with or without buildings.

13 (ii) Parcels used for utilities sites for generating plants,

14 pumping stations, switches, substations, compressing stations,

15 warehouses, rights-of-way, flowage land, and storage areas.

16 (iii) Parcels used for removal or processing of gravel,

17 stone, or mineral ores, whether valued by the local assessor or

18 by the state geologist.

19 (D) (e) Residential real property includes the following:

20 (i) Platted or unplatted parcels, with or without buildings,

21 and condominium apartments located within or outside a village or

22 city, which are used for, or probably will be used for, residen-

23 tial purposes.

24 (ii) Parcels that are used for, or probably will be used

25 for, recreational purposes, such as lake lots and hunting lands,

26 located in an area used predominantly for recreational purposes.

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1 (E) (f) Timber-cutover real property includes parcels that

2 are stocked with forest products of merchantable type and size,

3 cutover forest land with little or no merchantable products, and

4 marsh lands or other barren land. However, when a typical pur-

5 chase of this type of land is for residential or recreational

6 uses, the classification shall be changed to residential.

7 (3) The classifications of assessable personal property are

8 described as follows:

9 (a) Agricultural personal property includes farm buildings

10 on leased land and any agricultural equipment and produce not

11 exempt by law.

12 (b) Commercial personal property includes the following:

13 (i) All equipment, furniture, and fixtures on commercial

14 parcels, and inventories not exempt by law.

15 (ii) Outdoor advertising signs and billboards.

16 (iii) Well drilling rigs and other equipment attached to a

17 transporting vehicle but not designed for operation while the

18 vehicle is moving on the highway.

19 (iv) Unlicensed commercial vehicles or commercial vehicles

20 licensed as special mobile equipment or by temporary permits.

21 (v) Commercial buildings on leased land.

22 (c) Industrial personal property includes the following:

23 (i) All machinery and equipment, furniture and fixtures, and

24 dies on industrial parcels, and inventories not exempt by law.

25 (ii) Industrial buildings on leased land.

26 (iii) Personal property of mining companies valued by the

27 state geologist.

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62

1 (d) Residential personal property includes a home, cottage,

2 or cabin on leased land, and a mobile home that would be asses-

3 sable as real property under section 2a except that the land on

4 which it is located is not assessable because the land is

5 exempt.

6 (e) Utility personal property includes the following:

7 (i) Electric transmission and distribution systems, substa-

8 tion equipment, spare parts, gas distribution systems, and water

9 transmission and distribution systems.

10 (ii) Oil wells and allied equipment such as tanks, gathering

11 lines, field pump units, and buildings.

12 (iii) Inventories not exempt by law.

13 (iv) Gas wells with allied equipment and gathering lines.

14 (v) Oil or gas field equipment stored in the open or in

15 warehouses such as drilling rigs, motors, pipes, and parts.

16 (vi) Gas storage equipment.

17 (vii) Transmission lines of gas or oil transporting

18 companies.

19 (viii) Utility buildings on leased land.

20 (4) Buildings on leased land of any classification are

21 improvements where the owner of the improvement is not the owner

22 of the land or fee and has not bound himself or herself to pay

23 taxes levied against the land or fee and the improvement has been

24 assessed as personal property pursuant to section 14(6).

25 (5) If the total usage of a parcel includes more than 1

26 classification, the assessor shall determine the classification

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63

1 that most significantly influences the total valuation of the

2 parcel.

3 (6) An owner of any assessable property who disputes the

4 classification of that parcel shall notify the assessor and may

5 protest the assigned classification to the March board of

6 review. An owner or assessor may appeal the decision of the

7 March board of review by filing a petition with the state tax

8 commission not later than June 30 in that tax year. The state

9 tax commission shall arbitrate the petition based on the written

10 petition and the written recommendations of the assessor and the

11 state tax commission staff. An appeal may not be taken from the

12 decision of the state tax commission regarding classification

13 complaint petitions and the state tax commission's determination

14 is final and binding for the year of the petition.

15 (7) The department of treasury may appeal the classification

16 of any assessable property to the residential and small claims

17 division of the Michigan tax tribunal not later than December 31

18 in the tax year for which the classification is appealed.

19 (8) This section shall not be construed to encourage the

20 assessment of property at other than the uniform percentage of

21 true cash value prescribed by this act.

22 (9) AN OWNER OF PROPERTY FOR WHICH THE CLASSIFICATION IS

23 CHANGED FROM AGRICULTURAL REAL PROPERTY TO A DIFFERENT CLASSIFI-

24 CATION MAY FILE AN AFFIDAVIT UNDER SECTION 7EE NOT LATER THAN MAY

25 1 IN THAT TAX YEAR, CLAIMING AN EXEMPTION OF THAT PROPERTY AS

26 QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY.

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1 Sec. 34d. (1) As used in this section or section 27a, or

2 section 3 or 31 of article IX of the state constitution of 1963:

3 (a) For taxes levied before 1995, "additions" means all

4 increases in value caused by new construction or a physical addi-

5 tion of equipment or furnishings, and the value of property that

6 was exempt from taxes or not included on the assessment unit's

7 immediately preceding year's assessment roll.

8 (b) For taxes levied after 1994, "additions" means, except

9 as provided in subdivision (c), all of the following:

10 (i) Omitted real property. As used in this subparagraph,

11 "omitted real property" means previously existing tangible real

12 property not included in the assessment. Omitted real property

13 shall not increase taxable value as an addition unless the

14 assessing jurisdiction has a property record card or other docu-

15 mentation showing that the omitted real property was not previ-

16 ously included in the assessment. The assessing jurisdiction has

17 the burden of proof in establishing whether the omitted real

18 property is included in the assessment. Omitted real property

19 for the current and the 2 immediately preceding years, discovered

20 after the assessment roll has been completed, shall be added to

21 the tax roll pursuant to the procedures established in section

22 154. For purposes of determining the taxable value of real prop-

23 erty under section 27a, the value of omitted real property is

24 based on the value and the ratio of taxable value to true cash

25 value the omitted real property would have had if the property

26 had not been omitted.

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65

1 (ii) Omitted personal property. As used in this

2 subparagraph, "omitted personal property" means previously

3 existing tangible personal property not included in the

4 assessment. Omitted personal property shall be added to the tax

5 roll pursuant to section 154.

6 (iii) New construction. As used in this subparagraph, "new

7 construction" means property not in existence on the immediately

8 preceding tax day and not replacement construction. New con-

9 struction includes the physical addition of equipment or furnish-

10 ings, subject to the provisions set forth in section 27(2)(a) to

11 (o). For purposes of determining the taxable value of property

12 under section 27a, the value of new construction is the true cash

13 value of the new construction multiplied by 0.50.

14 (iv) Previously exempt property. As used in this subpara-

15 graph, "previously exempt property" means property that was

16 exempt from ad valorem taxation under this act on the immediately

17 preceding tax day but is subject to ad valorem taxation on the

18 current tax day under this act. For purposes of determining the

19 taxable value of real property under section 27a:

20 (A) The value of property previously exempt under section 7u

21 is the taxable value the entire parcel of property would have had

22 if that property had not been exempt, minus the product of the

23 entire parcel's taxable value in the immediately preceding year

24 and the lesser of 1.05 or the inflation rate.

25 (B) The taxable value of property that is a facility as that

26 term is defined in section 2 of Act No. 198 of the Public Acts

27 of 1974, being section 207.552 of the Michigan Compiled Laws

05309'99 *

66

1 1974 PA 198, MCL 207.552, that was previously exempt under

2 section 7k is the taxable value that property would have had

3 under this act if it had not been exempt.

4 (C) The value of property previously exempt under any other

5 section of law is the true cash value of the previously exempt

6 property multiplied by 0.50.

7 (v) Replacement construction. As used in this subparagraph,

8 "replacement construction" means construction that replaced prop-

9 erty damaged or destroyed by accident or act of God and that

10 occurred after the immediately preceding tax day to the extent

11 the construction's true cash value does not exceed the true cash

12 value of property that was damaged or destroyed by accident or

13 act of God in the immediately preceding 3 years. For purposes of

14 determining the taxable value of property under section 27a, the

15 value of the replacement construction is the true cash value of

16 the replacement construction multiplied by a fraction the numera-

17 tor of which is the taxable value of the property to which the

18 construction was added in the immediately preceding year and the

19 denominator of which is the true cash value of the property to

20 which the construction was added in the immediately preceding

21 year, and then multiplied by the lesser of 1.05 or the inflation

22 rate.

23 (vi) An increase in taxable value attributable to the com-

24 plete or partial remediation of environmental contamination

25 existing on the immediately preceding tax day. The department of

26 environmental quality shall determine the degree of remediation

27 based on information available in existing department of

05309'99 *

67

1 environmental quality records or information made available to

2 the department of environmental quality if the appropriate

3 APPLICABLE assessing officer for a local tax collecting unit

4 requests that determination. The increase in taxable value

5 attributable to the remediation is the increase in true cash

6 value attributable to the remediation multiplied by a fraction

7 the numerator of which is the taxable value of the property had

8 it not been contaminated and the denominator of which is the true

9 cash value of the property had it not been contaminated.

10 (vii) An increase in the value attributable to the

11 property's occupancy rate if either a loss, as that term is

12 defined in this section, had been previously allowed because of a

13 decrease in the property's occupancy rate or if the value of new

14 construction was reduced because of a below-market occupancy

15 rate. For purposes of determining the taxable value of property

16 under section 27a, the value of an addition for the increased

17 occupancy rate is the product of the increase in the true cash

18 value of the property attributable to the increased occupancy

19 rate multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the tax-

20 able value of the property in the immediately preceding year and

21 the denominator of which is the true cash value of the property

22 in the immediately preceding year, and then multiplied by the

23 lesser of 1.05 or the inflation rate.

24 (viii) Public services. As used in this subparagraph,

25 "public services" means water service, sewer service, a primary

26 access road, natural gas service, electrical service, telephone

27 service, sidewalks, or street lighting. For purposes of

05309'99 *

68

1 determining the taxable value of real property under section 27a,

2 the value of public services is the amount of increase in true

3 cash value of the property attributable to the available public

4 services multiplied by 0.50 and shall be added in the calendar

5 year following the calendar year when those public services are

6 initially available.

7 (c) For taxes levied after 1994, additions do not include

8 increased value attributable to any of the following:

9 (i) Platting, splits, or combinations of property.

10 (ii) A change in the zoning of property.

11 (iii) For the purposes of the calculation of the millage

12 reduction fraction under subsection (7) only, increased taxable

13 value under section 27a(3) OR, FOR QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPER-

14 TY, UNDER SECTION 27E(3) after a transfer of ownership of

15 property.

16 (d) "Assessed valuation of property as finally equalized"

17 means taxable value AS DETERMINED under section 27a.

18 (e) "Financial officer" means the officer responsible for

19 preparing the budget of a unit of local government.

20 (f) "General price level" means the annual average of the 12

21 monthly values for the United States consumer price index for all

22 urban consumers as defined and officially reported by the United

23 States department of labor, bureau of labor statistics.

24 (g) For taxes levied before 1995, "losses" means a decrease

25 in value caused by the removal or destruction of real or personal

26 property and the value of property taxed in the immediately

05309'99 *

69

1 preceding year that has been exempted or removed from the

2 assessment unit's assessment roll.

3 (h) For taxes levied after 1994, "losses" means, except as

4 provided in subdivision (i), all of the following:

5 (i) Property that has been destroyed or removed. For pur-

6 poses of determining the taxable value of property under section

7 27a, the value of property destroyed or removed is the product of

8 the true cash value of that property multiplied by a fraction the

9 numerator of which is the taxable value of that property in the

10 immediately preceding year and the denominator of which is the

11 true cash value of that property in the immediately preceding

12 year.

13 (ii) Property that was subject to ad valorem taxation under

14 this act in the immediately preceding year that is now exempt

15 from ad valorem taxation under this act. For purposes of deter-

16 mining the taxable value of property under section 27a, the value

17 of property exempted from ad valorem taxation under this act is

18 the amount exempted.

19 (iii) An adjustment in value, if any, because of a decrease

20 in the property's occupancy rate, to the extent provided by law.

21 For purposes of determining the taxable value of real property

22 under section 27a, the value of a loss for a decrease in the

23 property's occupancy rate is the product of the decrease in the

24 true cash value of the property attributable to the decreased

25 occupancy rate multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is

26 the taxable value of the property in the immediately preceding

05309'99 *

70

1 year and the denominator of which is the true cash value of the

2 property in the immediately preceding year.

3 (iv) A decrease in taxable value attributable to environmen-

4 tal contamination existing on the immediately preceding tax day.

5 The department of environmental quality shall determine the

6 degree to which environmental contamination limits the use of

7 property based on information available in existing department of

8 environmental quality records or information made available to

9 the department of environmental quality if the appropriate

10 APPLICABLE assessing officer for a local tax collecting unit

11 requests that determination. The department of environmental

12 quality's determination of the degree to which environmental con-

13 tamination limits the use of property shall be based on the cri-

14 teria established for the classifications CATEGORIES set forth

15 in section 20120a(1) of part 201 (environmental remediation) of

16 the natural resources and environmental protection act, Act

17 No. 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being section 324.20120a of

18 the Michigan Compiled Laws 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.20120A. The

19 decrease in taxable value attributable to the contamination is

20 the decrease in true cash value attributable to the contamination

21 multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the taxable

22 value of the property had it not been contaminated and the denom-

23 inator of which is the true cash value of the property had it not

24 been contaminated.

25 (i) For taxes levied after 1994, losses do not include

26 decreased value attributable to either of the following:

05309'99 *

71

1 (i) Platting, splits, or combinations of property.

2 (ii) A change in the zoning of property.

3 (j) "New construction and improvements" means additions less

4 losses.

5 (k) "Current year" means the year for which the millage lim-

6 itation is being calculated.

7 (l) "Inflation rate" means the ratio of the general price

8 level for the state fiscal year ending in the calendar year imme-

9 diately preceding the current year divided by the general price

10 level for the state fiscal year ending in the calendar year

11 before the year immediately preceding the current year.

12 (2) On or before the first Monday in May of each year, the

13 APPLICABLE assessing officer of each township or city shall tabu-

14 late the tentative taxable value as approved by the local board

15 of review and as modified by county equalization for each classi-

16 fication of property that is separately equalized for each unit

17 of local government and provide the tabulated tentative taxable

18 values to the county equalization director. The tabulation by

19 the APPLICABLE assessing officer shall contain additions and

20 losses for each classification of property that is separately

21 equalized for each unit of local government or part of a unit of

22 local government in the township or city. If as a result of

23 state equalization the taxable value of property changes, the

24 APPLICABLE assessing officer of each township or city shall

25 revise the calculations required by this subsection on or before

26 the Friday following the fourth Monday in May. The county

27 equalization director shall compute these amounts and the current

05309'99 *

72

1 and immediately preceding year's taxable values for each

2 classification of property that is separately equalized for each

3 unit of local government that levies taxes under this act within

4 the boundary of the county. The county equalization director

5 shall cooperate with equalization directors of neighboring coun-

6 ties, as necessary, to make the computation for units of local

7 government located in more than 1 county. The county equaliza-

8 tion director shall calculate the millage reduction fraction for

9 each unit of local government in the county for the current

10 year. The financial officer for each taxing jurisdiction shall

11 calculate the compounded millage reduction fractions beginning in

12 1980 resulting from the multiplication of successive millage

13 reduction fractions and shall recognize a local voter action to

14 increase the compounded millage reduction fraction to a maximum

15 of 1 as a new beginning fraction. Upon request of the superin-

16 tendent of the intermediate school district, the county equaliza-

17 tion director shall transmit the complete computations of the

18 taxable values to the superintendent of the intermediate school

19 district within that county. At the request of the presidents of

20 community colleges, the county equalization director shall trans-

21 mit the complete computations of the taxable values to the presi-

22 dents of community colleges within the county.

23 (3) On or before the first Monday in June of each year, the

24 county equalization director shall deliver the statement of the

25 computations signed by the county equalization director to the

26 county treasurer.

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73

1 (4) On or before the second Monday in June of each year, the

2 treasurer of each county shall certify the immediately preceding

3 year's taxable values, the current year's taxable values, the

4 amount of additions and losses for the current year, and the cur-

5 rent year's millage reduction fraction for each unit of local

6 government that levies a property tax in the county.

7 (5) The financial officer of each unit of local government

8 shall make the computation of the tax rate using the data certi-

9 fied by the county treasurer and the state tax commission. At

10 the annual session in October, the county board of commissioners

11 shall not authorize the levy of a tax unless the governing body

12 of the taxing jurisdiction has certified that the requested mill-

13 age has been reduced, if necessary, in compliance with section 31

14 of article IX of the state constitution of 1963.

15 (6) The number of mills permitted to be levied in a tax year

16 is limited as provided in this section pursuant to section 31 of

17 article IX of the state constitution of 1963. A unit of local

18 government shall not levy a tax rate greater than the rate deter-

19 mined by reducing its maximum rate or rates authorized by law or

20 charter by a millage reduction fraction as provided in this sec-

21 tion without voter approval.

22 (7) A millage reduction fraction shall be determined for

23 each year for each local unit of government. For ad valorem

24 property taxes that became a lien before January 1, 1983, the

25 numerator of the fraction shall be the total state equalized val-

26 uation for the immediately preceding year multiplied by the

27 inflation rate and the denominator of the fraction shall be the

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1 total state equalized valuation for the current year minus new

2 construction and improvements. For ad valorem property taxes

3 that become a lien after December 31, 1982 and through

4 December 31, 1994, the numerator of the fraction shall be the

5 product of the difference between the total state equalized valu-

6 ation for the immediately preceding year minus losses multiplied

7 by the inflation rate and the denominator of the fraction shall

8 be the total state equalized valuation for the current year minus

9 additions. For ad valorem property taxes that are levied after

10 December 31, 1994, the numerator of the fraction shall be the

11 product of the difference between the total taxable value for the

12 immediately preceding year minus losses multiplied by the infla-

13 tion rate and the denominator of the fraction shall be the total

14 taxable value for the current year minus additions. For each

15 year after 1993, a millage reduction fraction shall not exceed

16 1.

17 (8) The compounded millage reduction fraction for each year

18 after 1980 shall be calculated by multiplying the local unit's

19 previous year's compounded millage reduction fraction by the cur-

20 rent year's millage reduction fraction. Beginning with 1980 tax

21 levies, the compounded millage reduction fraction for the year

22 shall be multiplied by the maximum millage rate authorized by law

23 or charter for the unit of local government for the year, except

24 as provided by subsection (9). A compounded millage reduction

25 fraction shall not exceed 1.

26 (9) The millage reduction shall be determined separately for

27 authorized millage approved by the voters. The limitation on

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1 millage authorized by the voters on or before May 31 of a year

2 shall be calculated beginning with the millage reduction fraction

3 for that year. Millage authorized by the voters after May 31

4 shall not be subject to a millage reduction until the year fol-

5 lowing the voter authorization which shall be calculated begin-

6 ning with the millage reduction fraction for the year following

7 the authorization. The first millage reduction fraction used in

8 calculating the limitation on millage approved by the voters

9 after January 1, 1979 shall not exceed 1.

10 (10) A millage reduction fraction shall be applied sepa-

11 rately to the aggregate maximum millage rate authorized by a

12 charter and to each maximum millage rate authorized by state law

13 for a specific purpose.

14 (11) A unit of local government may submit to the voters for

15 their approval the levy in that year of a tax rate in excess of

16 the limit set by this section. The ballot question shall ask the

17 voters to approve the levy of a specific number of mills in

18 excess of the limit. The provisions of this section do not allow

19 the levy of a millage rate in excess of the maximum rate autho-

20 rized by law or charter. If the authorization to levy millage

21 expires after 1993 and a local governmental unit is asking voters

22 to renew the authorization to levy the millage, the ballot ques-

23 tion shall ask for renewed authorization for the number of expir-

24 ing mills as reduced by the millage reduction required by this

25 section. If the election occurs before June 1 of a year, the

26 millage reduction is based on the immediately preceding year's

27 millage reduction applicable to that millage. If the election

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1 occurs after May 31 of a year, the millage reduction shall be

2 based on that year's millage reduction applicable to that millage

3 had it not expired.

4 (12) A reduction or limitation under this section shall not

5 be applied to taxes imposed for the payment of principal and

6 interest on bonds or other evidence of indebtedness or for the

7 payment of assessments or contract obligations in anticipation of

8 which bonds are issued that were authorized before December 23,

9 1978, as provided by former section 4 of chapter I of the munici-

10 pal finance act, Act No. 202 of the Public Acts of 1943 1943 PA

11 202, or to taxes imposed for the payment of principal and inter-

12 est on bonds or other evidence of indebtedness or for the payment

13 of assessments or contract obligations in anticipation of which

14 bonds are issued that are approved by the voters after December

15 22, 1978.

16 (13) If it is determined subsequent to the levy of a tax

17 that an incorrect millage reduction fraction has been applied,

18 the amount of additional tax revenue or the shortage of tax reve-

19 nue shall be deducted from or added to the next regular tax levy

20 for that unit of local government after the determination of the

21 authorized rate pursuant to this section.

22 (14) If as a result of an appeal of county equalization or

23 state equalization the taxable value of a unit of local govern-

24 ment changes, the millage reduction fraction for the year shall

25 be recalculated. The financial officer shall effectuate an addi-

26 tion or reduction of tax revenue in the same manner as prescribed

27 in subsection (13).

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1 (15) The fractions calculated pursuant to this section shall

2 be rounded to 4 decimal places, except that the inflation rate

3 shall be computed by the state tax commission and shall be

4 rounded to 3 decimal places. The state tax commission shall pub-

5 lish the inflation rate before March 1 of each year.

6 (16) Beginning with taxes levied in 1994, the millage reduc-

7 tion required by section 31 of article IX of the state constitu-

8 tion of 1963 shall permanently reduce the maximum rate or rates

9 authorized by law or charter. The reduced maximum authorized

10 rate or rates for 1994 shall equal the product of the maximum

11 rate or rates authorized by law or charter before application of

12 this section multiplied by the compound COMPOUNDED millage

13 reduction applicable to that millage in 1994 pursuant to subsec-

14 tions (8) to (12). The reduced maximum authorized rate or rates

15 for 1995 and each year after 1995 shall equal the product of the

16 immediately preceding year's reduced maximum authorized rate or

17 rates multiplied by the current year's millage reduction fraction

18 and shall be adjusted for millage for which authorization has

19 expired and new authorized millage approved by the voters pursu-

20 ant to subsections (8) to (12).

21 Sec. 42. (1) The supervisor OR, FOR QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL

22 PROPERTY, THE COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIRECTOR shall prepare a tax

23 roll, with the taxes levied as provided in this act, and annex to

24 the roll a warrant signed by him or her, commanding the township

25 or city treasurer to collect the several sums mentioned in the

26 last column of the roll. but the THE warrant shall not refer to

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1 the total or aggregate of the several sums mentioned in the last

2 column. , and

3 (2) THE WARRANT SHALL COMMAND THE TOWNSHIP OR CITY TREASURER

4 to retain the amount receivable by law into the township OR CITY

5 treasury for the purpose therein specified IN THE WARRANT, and

6 to pay over DO ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:

7 (A) PAY as provided in section 43 to the county treasurer

8 the amounts which THAT are collected for state and county

9 purposes. , and

10 (B) PAY to the treasurer of each school district the amounts

11 which THAT are collected for that school district as provided

12 in section 43. , and notify

13 (C) NOTIFY the secretary or director of each school district

14 of the amount paid to the school district treasurer, and the

15 remainder of the amounts specified in the roll for the purposes

16 specified in the roll. , and account

17 (D) ACCOUNT in full for all money received on or before THE

18 IMMEDIATELY SUCCEEDING March 1. next following.

19 (3) The warrant shall authorize and command the TOWNSHIP OR

20 CITY treasurer, in case IF any person named in the tax roll

21 neglects or refuses to pay the tax, to levy the tax by distress

22 and sale of the THAT PERSON'S goods and chattels. of the

23 person.

24 (4) The supervisor OR, FOR QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY,

25 THE COUNTY EQUALIZATION DIRECTOR may make a new roll and warrant

26 in case of the loss of IF the roll originally given to the

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1 township OR CITY treasurer IS LOST. The copy of the roll with

2 the warrant annexed shall be known as "the tax roll." ROLL".

3 Sec. 44. (1) Upon receipt of the tax roll, the township

4 treasurer or other collector shall proceed to collect the taxes.

5 The township treasurer or other collector shall mail to each tax-

6 payer at the taxpayer's last known address on the tax roll or to

7 the taxpayer's designated agent a statement showing the descrip-

8 tion of the property against which the tax is levied, the taxable

9 value of the property, and the amount of the tax on the

10 property. If a tax statement is mailed to the taxpayer, a tax

11 statement sent to a taxpayer's designated agent may be in a sum-

12 mary form or may be in an electronic data processing format. If

13 the tax statement information is provided to both a taxpayer and

14 the taxpayer's designated agent, the tax statement mailed to the

15 taxpayer may be identified as an informational copy. FOR QUALI-

16 FIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY ONLY, THE TAX STATEMENT MAILED TO THE

17 TAXPAYER OR TO THE TAXPAYER'S DESIGNATED AGENT SHALL INCLUDE THE

18 RECAPTURE TAX THAT WOULD BE IMPOSED UNDER THE AGRICULTURAL PROP-

19 ERTY RECAPTURE ACT IF THE QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY WERE

20 CONVERTED BY A CHANGE IN USE, AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE

21 AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY RECAPTURE ACT. A township treasurer or

22 other collector electing to send a tax statement to a taxpayer's

23 designated agent or electing not to include an itemization in the

24 manner described in subsection (9)(c) in a tax statement mailed

25 to the taxpayer shall, upon request, mail a detailed copy of the

26 tax statement, including an itemization of the amount of tax in

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1 the manner described by subsection (9)(c), to the taxpayer

2 without charge, as previously required by this section.

3 (2) The expense of preparing and mailing the statement shall

4 be paid from the county, township, city, or village funds.

5 Failure to send or receive the notice does not prejudice the

6 right to collect or enforce the payment of the tax. The township

7 treasurer shall remain in the office of the township treasurer at

8 some convenient place in the township on each Friday in the month

9 of December, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to receive taxes, but shall

10 receive taxes upon a weekday when they are offered. However, if

11 a Friday in the month of December is Christmas eve, Christmas

12 day, New Year's eve, or a day designated by the township as a

13 holiday for township employees, the township treasurer shall not

14 be required to remain in the office of the township treasurer on

15 that Friday, but shall remain in the office of the township trea-

16 surer at some convenient place in the township from 9 a.m. to 5

17 p.m. on the day most immediately preceding that Friday that is

18 not Christmas eve, Christmas day, New Year's eve, or a day desig-

19 nated by the township as a holiday for township employees, to

20 receive taxes.

21 (3) Except as provided by subsection (7), on a sum volun-

22 tarily paid before February 15 of the succeeding year, the local

23 property tax collecting unit shall add 1% for a property tax

24 administration fee. However, unless otherwise provided for by an

25 agreement between the APPLICABLE assessing unit and the collect-

26 ing unit, if a local property tax collecting unit other than a

27 village does not also serve as the local APPLICABLE assessing

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1 unit, the excess of the amount of property tax administration

2 fees over the expense to the local property tax collecting unit

3 in collecting the taxes, but not less than 80% of the fee

4 imposed, shall be returned to the local APPLICABLE assessing

5 unit. A property tax administration fee is defined as a fee to

6 offset costs incurred by a collecting unit in assessing property

7 values, collecting the property tax levies, and in the review and

8 appeal processes. The costs of any appeals, in excess of funds

9 available from the property tax administration fee, may be shared

10 by any taxing unit only if approved by the governing body of the

11 taxing unit. Except as provided by subsection (7), on all taxes

12 paid after February 14 and before March 1 the governing body of a

13 city or township may authorize the treasurer to add to the tax a

14 property tax administration fee to the extent imposed on taxes

15 paid before February 15 and a late penalty charge equal to 3% of

16 the tax. Interest THE GOVERNING BODY OF A CITY OR TOWNSHIP MAY

17 WAIVE INTEREST from February 15 to the last day of February on a

18 summer property tax that has been deferred under section 51 or

19 any late penalty charge may be waived by the governing body of a

20 city or township for the homestead property of a senior citizen,

21 paraplegic, quadriplegic, hemiplegic, eligible serviceperson,

22 eligible veteran, eligible widow or widower, totally and per-

23 manently disabled person, or blind person, as those persons are

24 defined in chapter 9 of the income tax act of 1967, Act No. 281

25 of the Public Acts of 1967, being sections 206.501 to 206.532 of

26 the Michigan Compiled Laws 1967 PA 281, MCL 206.501 TO 206.532,

27 if the person makes a claim before February 15 for a credit for

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82

1 that property provided by chapter 9 of Act No. 281 of the Public

2 Acts of 1967 THE INCOME TAX ACT OF 1967, 1967 PA 281, MCL

3 206.501 TO 206.532, if the person presents a copy of the form

4 filed for that credit to the local treasurer, and if the person

5 has not received the credit before February 15. Interest THE

6 GOVERNING BODY OF A CITY OR TOWNSHIP MAY WAIVE INTEREST from

7 February 15 to the last day of February on a summer property tax

8 deferred under section 51 or any late penalty charge may be

9 waived by the governing body of a city or township for a

10 person's property that is subject to a farmland development

11 rights agreement recorded with the register of deeds of the

12 county in which the property is situated as provided in section

13 36104 of part 361 (farmland and open space preservation) of the

14 natural resources and environmental protection act, Act No. 451

15 of the Public Acts of 1994, being section 324.36104 of the

16 Michigan Compiled Laws 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.36104, if the person

17 presents a copy of the development rights agreement or verifica-

18 tion that the property is subject to a development rights agree-

19 ment before February 15. A 4% county property tax administration

20 fee, a property tax administration fee to the extent imposed on

21 and if authorized under subsection (7) for taxes paid before

22 March 1, and interest on the tax at the rate of 1% per month

23 shall be added to taxes collected by the township or city trea-

24 surer after the last day of February and before settlement with

25 the county treasurer, and the payment shall be treated as though

26 collected by the county treasurer. If the statements required to

27 be mailed by this section are not mailed before December 31, the

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83

1 treasurer shall not impose a late penalty charge with respect

2 to ON taxes collected after February 14.

3 (4) The governing body of a local property tax collecting

4 unit may waive all or part of the property tax administration fee

5 or the late penalty charge, or both. A property tax administra-

6 tion fee collected by the township treasurer shall be used only

7 for the purposes for which it may collected as specified by sub-

8 section (3) and this subsection. If the bond of the treasurer,

9 as provided in section 43, is furnished by a surety company, the

10 cost of the bond may be paid by the township from the property

11 tax administration fee.

12 (5) If apprehensive of the loss of personal tax assessed

13 upon the roll, the township treasurer may enforce collection of

14 the tax at any time, and if compelled to seize property or bring

15 an action in December may add, if authorized under

16 subsection (7), 1% for a property tax administration fee and 3%

17 for a late penalty charge.

18 (6) Along with taxes returned delinquent to a county trea-

19 surer under section 55, the amount of the 1% property tax admin-

20 istration fee prescribed by subsection (3) that is imposed and

21 not paid shall be included in the return of delinquent taxes and,

22 when delinquent taxes are distributed by the county treasurer

23 under this act, the delinquent 1% property tax administration fee

24 shall be distributed to the treasurer of the local unit who

25 transmitted the statement of taxes returned as delinquent.

26 Interest imposed upon delinquent property taxes under this act

27 shall also be imposed upon the 1% property tax administration fee

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84

1 and, for purposes of this act other than to which local unit the

2 county treasurer shall distribute a delinquent 1% property tax

3 administration fee, any reference to delinquent taxes shall be

4 considered to include the 1% property tax administration fee

5 returned as delinquent for the same property.

6 (7) The local property tax collecting treasurer shall not

7 impose a property tax administration fee, collection fee, or any

8 type of late penalty charge authorized by law or charter unless

9 the governing body of the local property tax collecting unit

10 approves, by resolution or ordinance adopted after

11 December 31, 1982, an authorization for the imposition of a prop-

12 erty tax administration fee, collection fee, or any type of late

13 penalty charge provided for by this section or by charter, which

14 authorization shall be valid for all levies that become a lien

15 after the resolution or ordinance is adopted. However, unless

16 otherwise provided for by an agreement between the assessing unit

17 and the collecting unit, a local property tax collecting unit

18 that does not also serve as the assessing unit shall impose a

19 property tax administration fee on each parcel at a rate equal to

20 the rate of the fee imposed for city or township taxes on that

21 parcel.

22 (8) The annual statement required by Act No. 125 of the

23 Public Acts of 1966, being sections 565.161 to 565.164 of the

24 Michigan Compiled Laws 1966 PA 125, MCL 565.161 TO 565.164, or a

25 monthly billing form or mortgagor passbook provided instead of

26 that annual statement shall include a statement to the effect

27 that a taxpayer who has WAS not been mailed the tax statement

05309'99 *

85

1 or a copy of the tax statement by the township treasurer or other

2 collector shall receive, upon request and without charge, a copy

3 of the tax statement from the township treasurer or other collec-

4 tor or, if the tax statement has been mailed to the taxpayer's

5 designated agent, from either the taxpayer's designated agent or

6 the township treasurer or other collector. A designated agent

7 who is subject to Act No. 125 of the Public Acts of 1966 1966

8 PA 125, MCL 565.161 TO 565.164, and who has been mailed the tax

9 statement for taxes that became a lien in the calendar year imme-

10 diately preceding the year in which the annual statement may be

11 required to be furnished shall mail, upon the request of and

12 without charge to a taxpayer who has WAS not been mailed that

13 tax statement or a copy of that tax statement, a copy of that tax

14 statement. to that taxpayer.

15 (9) As used in this section:

16 (a) "Designated agent" means an individual, partnership,

17 association, corporation, receiver, estate, trust, or other legal

18 entity that has entered into an escrow account agreement or other

19 agreement with the taxpayer that obligates that individual or

20 legal entity to pay the property taxes for the taxpayer or, if an

21 agreement has not been entered into, that has been WAS desig-

22 nated by the taxpayer on a form made available to the taxpayer by

23 the township treasurer and filed with that treasurer. The desig-

24 nation by the taxpayer shall remain in effect until revoked by

25 the taxpayer in a writing filed with the township treasurer. The

26 form made available by the township treasurer shall include a

27 statement that submission of the form allows the treasurer to

05309'99 *

86

1 mail the tax statement to the designated agent instead of to the

2 taxpayer and a statement notifying the taxpayer of his or her

3 right to revoke the designation by a writing filed with the town-

4 ship treasurer.

5 (b) "Taxpayer" means the owner of the property upon ON

6 which the tax is imposed.

7 (c) When describing in subsection (1) that the amount of tax

8 on the property must be shown in the tax statement, "amount of

9 tax" means an itemization by dollar amount of each of the several

10 ad valorem property taxes and special assessments that a person

11 may pay under section 53 and an itemization by millage rate, on

12 either the tax statement or a separate form accompanying the tax

13 statement, of each of the several ad valorem property taxes that

14 a person may pay under section 53. The township treasurer or

15 other collector may replace the itemization described in this

16 subdivision with a statement informing the taxpayer that the

17 itemization of the dollar amount and millage rate of the taxes is

18 available without charge from the local property tax collecting

19 unit.

20 Sec. 53b. (1) If there has been a clerical error or a

21 mutual mistake of fact relative to the correct assessment fig-

22 ures, the rate of taxation, or the mathematical computation

23 relating to the assessing of taxes, the CLERICAL error or mutual

24 mistake OF FACT shall be verified by the local APPLICABLE

25 assessing officer and approved by the APPLICABLE board of review

26 at a meeting held for the purposes of this section on Tuesday

27 following the second Monday in December, and for summer property

05309'99 *

87

1 taxes, on Tuesday following the third Monday in July. If

2 approved, the board of review shall file an affidavit within 30

3 days relative to the errors CLERICAL ERROR or mutual mistake OF

4 FACT with the proper officials who are involved with the assess-

5 ment figures, rate of taxation, or mathematical computation and

6 all affected official records shall be corrected. IF THE CLERI-

7 CAL ERROR OR MUTUAL MISTAKE OF FACT RESULTS IN AN UNDERPAYMENT,

8 THE TAXPAYER SHALL BE NOTIFIED AND PAYMENT MADE WITHIN 30 DAYS OF

9 THE NOTICE. If the CLERICAL error or mutual mistake OF FACT

10 results in an overpayment, or underpayment, the A rebate,

11 including any interest paid, shall be made to the taxpayer. or

12 the taxpayer shall be notified and payment made within 30 days of

13 the notice. A rebate shall be without interest. The county

14 treasurer may deduct the rebate from the appropriate tax collect-

15 ing unit's subsequent distribution of taxes. The county trea-

16 surer shall bill to the appropriate tax collecting unit the tax

17 collecting unit's share of taxes rebated. A correction under

18 this subsection may be made in the year in which the error was

19 made or in the following year only.

20 (2) Action pursuant to this section may be initiated by the

21 taxpayer or the APPLICABLE assessing officer.

22 (3) The A board of review meeting in July and December

23 shall meet only for the purpose described in subsection (1) and

24 to hear appeals provided for in sections 7u, 7cc, and 7ee. If an

25 exemption under section 7u is approved, the board of review shall

26 file an affidavit with the proper officials involved in the

27 assessment and collection of taxes and all affected official

05309'99 *

88

1 records shall be corrected. If an appeal under section 7cc or

2 7ee results in a determination that an overpayment has been made,

3 the APPLICABLE board of review shall file an affidavit and a

4 rebate shall be made at the times and in the manner provided in

5 subsection (1). Except as otherwise provided in sections 7cc and

6 7ee, a correction under this subsection shall be made for the

7 year in which the appeal is made only. If the A board of

8 review grants an exemption or provides a rebate for property

9 under section 7cc or 7ee as provided in this subsection, the

10 APPLICABLE board of review shall require the owner to execute the

11 affidavit provided for in section 7cc or 7ee and shall forward a

12 copy of any section 7cc affidavits to the department of

13 treasury.

14 (4) If an exemption under section 7cc is granted by the A

15 board of review under this section, the provisions of

16 section 7cc(6) through (8) apply. If an exemption under

17 section 7cc is not granted by the A board of review under this

18 section, the owner may appeal that decision in writing to the

19 department of treasury within 35 days of the board of review's

20 denial and the appeal shall be conducted as provided in

21 section 7cc(7).

22 (5) An owner or assessor APPLICABLE ASSESSING OFFICER may

23 appeal a decision of the QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL PROPERTY board of

24 review under this section regarding an exemption under

25 section 7ee to the residential and small claims division of the

26 Michigan tax tribunal. An owner is not required to pay the

27 amount of tax in dispute in order to receive a final

05309'99 *

89

1 determination of the residential and small claims division of the

2 Michigan tax tribunal. However, interest and penalties, if any,

3 shall accrue and be computed based on interest and penalties that

4 would have accrued from the date the taxes were originally levied

5 as if there had not been an exemption.

6 Enacting section 1. Section 7a of the general property tax

7 act, 1893 PA 206, MCL 211.7a, is repealed.

8 Enacting section 2. This amendatory act does not take

9 effect unless all of the following occur:

10 (a) Senate Bill No. 1247

11 of the 90th Legislature is enacted into law.

12 (b) Senate Bill No. 1246

13 of the 90th Legislature is enacted into law.

14 (c) Senate Joint Resolution M of the 90th Legislature

15 becomes a part of the state constitution of 1963 as provided in

16 section 1 of article XII of the state constitution of 1963.

05309'99 * Final page. FDD