The Romeo Observer - Romeo, Michigan: Northern Macomb County's weekly newspaper since 1866

Breaking News

» Obituaries

Browse Full Text...

» Inside

Public Notices
Links
About Us
News Stands
Subscriptions
Editorial Forms
Archives

» Deadlines

Friday, 2 pm
Inserts

Friday, 5 pm
Retail Display
Editorial

Monday, Noon
Classified Display
Service Directory Display

Monday, 2 pm
Service Directory Liners

Monday, 3 pm
Classified Liners

All Holiday Deadlines are One Full Workday Earlier

Reappraisal may finish in
fall, but won't affect 2010

by CHRIS GRAY
Observer Staff Writer

      Though Bruce Township is ahead of schedule for its complete re-appraisal, it will have no effect on 2010 assessments.
       As the township continues to reappraise its 4,000-plus parcels and assessment notices are sent out, residents have questioned whether it will use the new results for the 2010 assessments. Officials say new assessments won't be used until next year.
       Supervisor Jim Tignanelli explained that the township is prohibited from using what has been completed for the current assessments. He said the township must finish the re-appraisal of every parcel before it can do so.
       "Right now everything is in the interim because the State Tax Commission maintains our roll," he said.
       The State Tax Commission took over the roll because the township failed a 14-point review of its systems and operations. The review was prompted when the township submitted an unsigned tax roll in 2009.
       Prior to the submission of the tax roll, the township terminated its assessor on the grounds that she knowingly certified an inaccurate tax roll. That being the case, no one was qualified to sign it.
       Since township officials knew the review was coming, Tignanelli said they decided to begin a total reappraisal in the spring of 2009 instead of waiting to be ordered to do so.
       "The State Tax Commission was complimentary to us in their report on doing the re-appraisal," he said.
       He said the goal is to have the reappraisal finished as early as October, saying that the assessing department is ahead of schedule from a lack of heavy snow in November and part of December.
       "Right now they're checking the more rural areas," he said. "Relatively speaking, they take less time<there are only four or five on a road, but they have a lot more walking to do."
       Chris Wendt, a level I assessor with the township, said that the Village of Romeo is pretty much done and that the higher density areas of the township have been completed.
       "For the most part, it's gone pretty well," she said.
       Appealing 2010 assessments
       Decreasing taxable values may have sparked a decreased interest in appealing to the Board of Review. Last year, about 300 appointments were made the week before the board met. This year, only 40 appointments were scheduled prior to the board meeting.
       Tignanelli said this was likely caused by the taxable values for the township decreasing by an overall 15 percent. This includes residential, agricultural, commercial, industrial and developmental properties.
       "Some of them were hit harder (than 15 percent), some a bit less," he said. "The residential will likely be a bit more than that."
       Wendt agreed, saying that most people are content or happy with a decrease, so they don't feel a need to appeal it.
       "It's been pretty busy, but the volume hasn't been what we anticipated," she said.
       It is recommended that those who are appealing their assessments bring in evidence. such as photos, of what they're appealing. Residents are allowed about 20 minutes to make their case to the Board of Review.
       Anyone who wishes to appeal their assessment can still make an appointment by calling the township at (586) 752-4585, or can submit a request by letter if the resident is unable to appear before the board.
       Appeal requests will not be accepted after 4:30 p.m. Friday, March 12.