HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION III

 

July 23, 2008, Introduced by Rep. LeBlanc and referred to the Committee on Tax Policy.

 

     A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the state

 

constitution of 1963, by amending section 3 of article IX, to limit

 

the increase in taxable value of real property under certain

 

circumstances.

 

     Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the

 

state of Michigan, That the following amendment to the state

 

constitution of 1963, to limit the increase in taxable value of

 

real property under certain circumstances, is proposed, agreed to,

 

and submitted to the people of the state:

 

ARTICLE IX

 

     Sec. 3. The legislature shall provide for the uniform general

 

ad valorem taxation of real and tangible personal property not

 

exempt by law except for taxes levied for school operating


 

purposes. The legislature shall provide for the determination of

 

true cash value of such property; the proportion of true cash value

 

at which such property shall be uniformly assessed, which shall

 

not, after January 1, 1966, exceed 50 percent; and for a system of

 

equalization of assessments. For taxes levied in 1995 and each year

 

thereafter, the legislature shall provide that the taxable value of

 

each parcel of property adjusted for additions and losses, shall

 

not increase each year by more than the increase in the immediately

 

preceding year in the general price level, as defined in section 33

 

of this article, or 5 percent, whichever is less until ownership of

 

the parcel of property is transferred. However, for taxes levied

 

after 2008, the legislature shall provide that if a property's

 

assessed value has increased by less than both the general price

 

level and 5 percent or if a property's assessed value has

 

decreased, adjusted for additions and losses, the property's

 

taxable value in the immediately succeeding year shall increase or

 

decrease by that same percentage increase or decrease in the

 

property's assessed value. When ownership of the parcel of property

 

is transferred as defined by law, the parcel shall be assessed at

 

the applicable proportion of current true cash value. The

 

legislature may provide for alternative means of taxation of

 

designated real and tangible personal property in lieu of general

 

ad valorem taxation. Every tax other than the general ad valorem

 

property tax shall be uniform upon the class or classes on which it

 

operates. A law that increases the statutory limits in effect as of

 

February 1, 1994 on the maximum amount of ad valorem property taxes

 

that may be levied for school district operating purposes requires


 

the approval of 3/4 of the members elected to and serving in the

 

Senate and in the House of Representatives.

 

     Resolved further, That the foregoing amendment shall be

 

submitted to the people of the state at the next general election

 

in the manner provided by law.