HOUSE BILL No. 4942

 

July 2, 2003, Introduced by Reps. Tobocman, Hunter, Kooiman, Dennis, Gillard and Woronchak and referred to the Committee on Tax Policy.

        

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                 A bill to amend 1893 PA 206, entitled                                             

                                                                                

    "The general property tax act,"                                             

                                                                                

    by amending sections 27a and 34d (MCL 211.27a and 211.34d),                 

                                                                                

    section 27a as amended by 2000 PA 260 and section 34d as amended            

                                                                                

    by 1996 PA 476.                                                             

                                                                                

                THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:                      

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

2   property shall be assessed at 50% of its true cash value under              

                                                                                

3   section 3 of article IX of the state constitution of 1963.                  

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

5   levied in 1995 and for each year after 1995, the taxable value of           

                                                                                

6   each parcel of property is the lesser of the following:                     

                                                                                

7       (a) The property's taxable value in the immediately preceding               

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

9   inflation rate, plus all additions.  For taxes levied in 1995,              

                                                                                


                                                                                

1   the property's taxable value in the immediately preceding year is           

                                                                                

2   the property's state equalized valuation in 1994.                           

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

7   the calendar year following the transfer.                                   

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

11  until a subsequent transfer of ownership occurs.                            

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

15  increases to pay principal and interest on limited tax bonds                

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

18  1964, if the assessment required to be made under this act would            

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

20  property at the time of the issuance of the bonds.  This                    

                                                                                

21  inapplicability shall continue until levy of taxes to pay                   

                                                                                

22  principal and interest on the bonds is no longer required.  The             

                                                                                

23  assessment of property required by this act shall be applicable             

                                                                                

24  for all other purposes.                                                     

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

26  conveyance of title to or a present interest in property,                   

                                                                                

27  including the beneficial use of the property, the value of which            


                                                                                

1   is substantially equal to the value of the fee interest.                    

                                                                                

2   Transfer of ownership of property includes, but is not limited              

                                                                                

3   to, the following:                                                          

                                                                                

4       (a) A conveyance by deed.                                                   

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

7   1994 shall be adjusted under subsection (3) for the calendar year           

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

12  located.                                                                    

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

15  property to the trust and the sole present beneficiary or                   

                                                                                

16  beneficiaries are the settlor or the settlor's spouse, or both.             

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

19  sole present beneficiary, or both.                                          

                                                                                

20      (e) A change in the sole present beneficiary or beneficiaries               

                                                                                

21  of a trust, except a change that adds or substitutes the spouse             

                                                                                

22  of the sole present beneficiary.                                            

                                                                                

23      (f) A conveyance by distribution under a will or by intestate               

                                                                                

24  succession, except if the distributee is the decedent's spouse.             

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

26  including the initial term and all options for renewal, is more             

                                                                                

27  than 35 years or the lease grants the lessee a bargain purchase             


                                                                                

1   option.  As used in this subdivision, "bargain purchase option"             

                                                                                

2   means the right to purchase the property at the termination of              

                                                                                

3   the lease for not more than 80% of the property's projected true            

                                                                                

4   cash value at the termination of the lease.  After December 31,             

                                                                                

5   1994, the taxable value of property conveyed by a lease with a              

                                                                                

6   total duration of more than 35 years or with a bargain purchase             

                                                                                

7   option shall be adjusted under subsection (3) for the calendar              

                                                                                

8   year following the year in which the lease is entered into.  This           

                                                                                

9   subdivision does not apply to personal property except buildings            

                                                                                

10  described in section 14(6) and personal property described in               

                                                                                

11  section 8(h), (i), and (j).  This subdivision does not apply to             

                                                                                

12  that portion of the property not subject to the leasehold                   

                                                                                

13  interest conveyed.                                                          

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

15  partnership, sole proprietorship, limited liability company,                

                                                                                

16  limited liability partnership, or other legal entity if the                 

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

18  partnership, sole proprietorship, limited liability company,                

                                                                                

19  limited liability partnership, or other legal entity.  Unless               

                                                                                

20  notification is provided under subsection (10), the corporation,            

                                                                                

21  partnership, sole proprietorship, limited liability company,                

                                                                                

22  limited liability partnership, or other legal entity shall notify           

                                                                                

23  the assessing officer on a form provided by the state tax                   

                                                                                

24  commission not more than 45 days after a conveyance of an                   

                                                                                

25  ownership interest that constitutes a transfer of ownership under           

                                                                                

26  this subdivision.                                                           

                                                                                

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


                                                                                

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

                                                                                

2   interest conveyed.                                                          

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

4   housing corporation, except that portion of the property not                

                                                                                

5   subject to the ownership interest conveyed.                                 

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

8   spouse or from a decedent to a surviving spouse.                            

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

10  creating or disjoining a tenancy by the entireties in the                   

                                                                                

11  grantors or the grantor and his or her spouse.                              

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

16  adjusted under subsection (3).                                              

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

19  judicature act of 1961, 1961 PA 236, MCL 600.3101 to 600.3280 and           

                                                                                

20  MCL 600.5701 to 600.5785, or through deed or conveyance in lieu             

                                                                                

21  of a foreclosure or forfeiture, until the mortgagee or land                 

                                                                                

22  contract vendor subsequently transfers the property.  If a                  

                                                                                

23  mortgagee does not transfer the property within 1 year of the               

                                                                                

24  expiration of any applicable redemption period, the property                

                                                                                

25  shall be adjusted under subsection (3).                                     

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

27  assessed of property previously sold for delinquent taxes.                  


                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

4   spouse, or both.                                                            

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

7   consideration is specified or ordered by the court for the                  

                                                                                

8   transfer.                                                                   

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

11  original owner of the property before the joint tenancy was                 

                                                                                

12  initially created and, if the property is held as a joint tenancy           

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

14  tenant when the joint tenancy was initially created and that                

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

16  initially created.  A joint owner at the time of the last                   

                                                                                

17  transfer of ownership of the property is an original owner of the           

                                                                                

18  property.  For purposes of this subdivision, a person is an                 

                                                                                

19  original owner of property owned by that person's spouse.                   

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

21  a security interest.                                                        

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

23  among members of an affiliated group.  As used in this                      

                                                                                

24  subsection, "affiliated group" means 1 or more corporations                 

                                                                                

25  connected by stock ownership to a common parent corporation.                

                                                                                

26  Upon request by the state tax commission, a corporation shall               

                                                                                

27  furnish proof within 45 days that a transfer meets the                      


                                                                                

1   requirements of this subdivision.  A corporation that fails to              

                                                                                

2   comply with a request by the state tax commission under this                

                                                                                

3   subdivision is subject to a fine of $200.00.                                

                                                                                

4       (k) Normal public trading of shares of stock or other                       

                                                                                

5   ownership interests that, over any period of time, cumulatively             

                                                                                

6   represent more than 50% of the total ownership interest in a                

                                                                                

7   corporation or other legal entity and are traded in multiple                

                                                                                

8   transactions involving unrelated individuals, institutions, or              

                                                                                

9   other legal entities.                                                       

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

11  among corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies,              

                                                                                

12  limited liability partnerships, or other legal entities if the              

                                                                                

13  entities involved are commonly controlled.  Upon request by the             

                                                                                

14  state tax commission, a corporation, partnership, limited                   

                                                                                

15  liability company, limited liability partnership, or other legal            

                                                                                

16  entity shall furnish proof within 45 days that a transfer meets             

                                                                                

17  the requirements of this subdivision.  A corporation,                       

                                                                                

18  partnership, limited liability company, limited liability                   

                                                                                

19  partnership, or other legal entity that fails to comply with a              

                                                                                

20  request by the state tax commission under this subdivision is               

                                                                                

21  subject to a fine of $200.00.                                               

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

23  ownership interests resulting from a transaction that qualifies             

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

25  revenue code of 1986.  Upon request by the state tax commission,            

                                                                                

26  a property owner shall furnish proof within 45 days that a                  

                                                                                

27  transfer meets the requirements of this subdivision.  A property            


                                                                                

1   owner who fails to comply with a request by the state tax                   

                                                                                

2   commission under this subdivision is subject to a fine of                   

                                                                                

3   $200.00.                                                                    

                                                                                

4       (n) A transfer of qualified agricultural property, if the                   

                                                                                

5   person to whom the qualified agricultural property is transferred           

                                                                                

6   files an affidavit with the assessor of the local tax collecting            

                                                                                

7   unit in which the qualified agricultural property is located and            

                                                                                

8   with the register of deeds for the county in which the qualified            

                                                                                

9   agricultural property is located attesting that the qualified               

                                                                                

10  agricultural property shall remain qualified agricultural                   

                                                                                

11  property.  The affidavit under this subdivision shall be in a               

                                                                                

12  form prescribed by the department of treasury.  An owner of                 

                                                                                

13  qualified agricultural property shall inform a prospective buyer            

                                                                                

14  of that qualified agricultural property that the qualified                  

                                                                                

15  agricultural property is subject to the recapture tax provided in           

                                                                                

16  the agricultural property recapture act, 2000 PA 261, MCL                   

                                                                                

17  211.1001 to 211.1007, if the qualified agricultural property is             

                                                                                

18  converted by a change in use.  If property ceases to be qualified           

                                                                                

19  agricultural property at any time after being transferred, all of           

                                                                                

20  the following shall occur:                                                  

                                                                                

21                                                                               (i) The taxable value of that property shall be adjusted                            

                                                                                

22  under subsection (3) as of the December 31 in the year that the             

                                                                                

23  property ceases to be qualified agricultural property.                      

                                                                                

24      (ii) The property is subject to the recapture tax provided                   

                                                                                

25  for under the agricultural property recapture act, 2000 PA 261,             

                                                                                

26  MCL 211.1001 to 211.1007.                                                   

                                                                                

27      (o) A transfer of real property classified as residential                   


                                                                                

1   real property under section 34c to a charitable housing                     

                                                                                

2   organization.                                                               

                                                                                

3       (p) A transfer of real property classified as residential                   

                                                                                

4   real property under section 34c from a charitable housing                   

                                                                                

5   organization to a low income person.                                        

                                                                                

6       (q) A transfer of real property classified as residential                   

                                                                                

7   real property under section 34c from a low income person who                

                                                                                

8   received that real property in a conveyance from a charitable               

                                                                                

9   housing organization to another low income person.                          

                                                                                

10      (8) If all of the following conditions are satisfied, the                   

                                                                                

11  local tax collecting unit shall revise the taxable value of                 

                                                                                

12  qualified agricultural property taxable on the tax roll in the              

                                                                                

13  possession of that local tax collecting unit to the taxable value           

                                                                                

14  that qualified agricultural property would have had if there had            

                                                                                

15  been no transfer of ownership of that qualified agricultural                

                                                                                

16  property since December 31, 1999 and there had been no adjustment           

                                                                                

17  of that qualified agricultural property's taxable value under               

                                                                                

18  subsection (3) since December 31, 1999:                                     

                                                                                

19      (a) The qualified agricultural property was qualified                       

                                                                                

20  agricultural property for taxes levied in 1999 and each year                

                                                                                

21  after 1999.                                                                 

                                                                                

22      (b) The owner of the qualified agricultural property files an               

                                                                                

23  affidavit with the assessor of the local tax collecting unit                

                                                                                

24  under subsection (7)(n).                                                    

                                                                                

25      (9) If the taxable value of qualified agricultural property                 

                                                                                

26  is adjusted under subsection (8), the owner of that qualified               

                                                                                

27  agricultural property shall not be entitled to a refund for any             


                                                                                

1   property taxes collected under this act on that qualified                   

                                                                                

2   agricultural property before the adjustment under subsection                

                                                                                

3   (8).                                                                        

                                                                                

4       (10) The register of deeds of the county where deeds or other               

                                                                                

5   title documents are recorded shall notify the assessing officer             

                                                                                

6   of the appropriate local taxing unit not less than once each                

                                                                                

7   month of any recorded transaction involving the ownership of                

                                                                                

8   property and shall make any recorded deeds or other title                   

                                                                                

9   documents available to that county's tax or equalization                    

                                                                                

10  department.  Unless notification is provided under subsection               

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

12  shall notify the appropriate assessing office in the local unit             

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

18  identification number or legal description.  Forms filed in the             

                                                                                

19  assessing office of a local unit of government under this                   

                                                                                

20  subsection shall be made available to the county tax or                     

                                                                                

21  equalization department for the county in which that local unit             

                                                                                

22  of government is located.  This subsection does not apply to                

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

24  personal property described in section 8(h), (i), and (j).                  

                                                                                

25      (11) As used in this section:                                               

                                                                                

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

                                                                                

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


                                                                                

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

                                                                                

2   and restrictions of record.                                                 

                                                                                

3       (c) "Charitable housing organization" means a nonprofit                     

                                                                                

4   charitable organization the primary purpose of which is the                 

                                                                                

5   construction or renovation of residential housing for conveyance            

                                                                                

6   to a low income person.                                                     

                                                                                

7       (d)  (c)  "Converted by a change in use" means that term as                 

                                                                                

8   defined in the agricultural property recapture act, 2000 PA 261,            

                                                                                

9   MCL 211.1001 to 211.1007.                                                   

                                                                                

10      (e) "Family income" and "statewide median gross income" mean                

                                                                                

11  those terms as defined in section 11 of the state housing                   

                                                                                

12  development authority act of 1966, 1966 PA 346, MCL 125.1411.               

                                                                                

13      (f)  (d)  "Inflation rate" means that term as defined in                    

                                                                                

14  section 34d.                                                                

                                                                                

15      (g)  (e)  "Losses" means that term as defined in section                    

                                                                                

16  34d.                                                                        

                                                                                

17      (h) "Low income person" means a person with a family income                 

                                                                                

18  of not more than 60% of the statewide median gross income and who           

                                                                                

19  is eligible to participate in the charitable housing                        

                                                                                

20  organization's program based on criteria established by the                 

                                                                                

21  charitable housing organization.                                            

                                                                                

22      (i)  (f)  "Qualified agricultural property" means that term                 

                                                                                

23  as defined in section 7dd.                                                  

                                                                                

24      Sec. 34d.  (1) As used in this section or section 27a, or                   

                                                                                

25  section 3 or 31 of article IX of the state constitution of 1963:            

                                                                                

26      (a) For taxes levied before 1995, "additions" means all                     

                                                                                

27  increases in value caused by new construction or a physical                 


                                                                                

1   addition of equipment or furnishings, and the value of property             

                                                                                

2   that was exempt from taxes or not included on the assessment                

                                                                                

3   unit's immediately preceding year's assessment roll.                        

                                                                                

4       (b) For taxes levied after 1994, "additions" means, except as               

                                                                                

5   provided in subdivision (c), all of the following:                          

                                                                                

6                                                                                (i) Omitted real property.  As used in this subparagraph,                           

                                                                                

7   "omitted real property" means previously existing tangible real             

                                                                                

8   property not included in the assessment.  Omitted real property             

                                                                                

9   shall not increase taxable value as an addition unless the                  

                                                                                

10  assessing jurisdiction has a property record card or other                  

                                                                                

11  documentation showing that the omitted real property was not                

                                                                                

12  previously included in the assessment.  The assessing                       

                                                                                

13  jurisdiction has the burden of proof in establishing whether the            

                                                                                

14  omitted real property is included in the assessment.  Omitted               

                                                                                

15  real property for the current and the 2 immediately preceding               

                                                                                

16  years, discovered after the assessment roll has been completed,             

                                                                                

17  shall be added to the tax roll pursuant to the procedures                   

                                                                                

18  established in section 154.  For purposes of determining the                

                                                                                

19  taxable value of real property under section 27a, the value of              

                                                                                

20  omitted real property is based on the value and the ratio of                

                                                                                

21  taxable value to true cash value the omitted real property would            

                                                                                

22  have had if the property had not been omitted.                              

                                                                                

23      (ii) Omitted personal property.  As used in this                             

                                                                                

24  subparagraph, "omitted personal property" means previously                  

                                                                                

25  existing tangible personal property not included in the                     

                                                                                

26  assessment.  Omitted personal property shall be added to the tax            

                                                                                

27  roll pursuant to section 154.                                               


                                                                                

1       (iii) New construction.  As used in this subparagraph and                    

                                                                                

2   subdivision (c)(iv), "new construction" means property not in                

                                                                                

3   existence on the immediately preceding tax day and not                      

                                                                                

4   replacement construction.  New construction includes the physical           

                                                                                

5   addition of equipment or furnishings, subject to the provisions             

                                                                                

6   set forth in section 27(2)(a) to (o).  For purposes of                      

                                                                                

7   determining the taxable value of property under section 27a, the            

                                                                                

8   value of new construction is the true cash value of the new                 

                                                                                

9   construction multiplied by 0.50.                                            

                                                                                

10      (iv) Previously exempt property.  As used in this                            

                                                                                

11  subparagraph, "previously exempt property" means property that              

                                                                                

12  was exempt from ad valorem taxation under this act on the                   

                                                                                

13  immediately preceding tax day but is subject to ad valorem                  

                                                                                

14  taxation on the current tax day under this act.  For purposes of            

                                                                                

15  determining the taxable value of real property under section                

                                                                                

16  27a:                                                                        

                                                                                

17      (A) The value of property previously exempt under section 7u                

                                                                                

18  is the taxable value the entire parcel of property would have had           

                                                                                

19  if that property had not been exempt, minus the product of the              

                                                                                

20  entire parcel's taxable value in the immediately preceding year             

                                                                                

21  and the lesser of 1.05 or the inflation rate.                               

                                                                                

22      (B) The taxable value of property that is a facility as that                

                                                                                

23  term is defined in section 2 of  Act No. 198 of the Public Acts             

                                                                                

24  of 1974, being section 207.552 of the Michigan Compiled Laws                

                                                                                

25  1974 PA 198, MCL 207.552, that was previously exempt under                  

                                                                                

26  section 7k is the taxable value that property would have had                

                                                                                

27  under this act if it had not been exempt.                                   


                                                                                

1       (C) The value of property previously exempt under any other                 

                                                                                

2   section of law is the true cash value of the previously exempt              

                                                                                

3   property multiplied by 0.50.                                                

                                                                                

4       (v) Replacement construction.  As used in this subparagraph,                

                                                                                

5   "replacement construction" means construction that replaced                 

                                                                                

6   property damaged or destroyed by accident or act of God and that            

                                                                                

7   occurred after the immediately preceding tax day to the extent              

                                                                                

8   the construction's true cash value does not exceed the true cash            

                                                                                

9   value of property that was damaged or destroyed by accident or              

                                                                                

10  act of God in the immediately preceding 3 years.  For purposes of           

                                                                                

11  determining the taxable value of property under section 27a, the            

                                                                                

12  value of the replacement construction is the true cash value of             

                                                                                

13  the replacement construction multiplied by a fraction the                   

                                                                                

14  numerator of which is the taxable value of the property to which            

                                                                                

15  the construction was added in the immediately preceding year and            

                                                                                

16  the denominator of which is the true cash value of the property             

                                                                                

17  to which the construction was added in the immediately preceding            

                                                                                

18  year, and then multiplied by the lesser of 1.05 or the inflation            

                                                                                

19  rate.                                                                       

                                                                                

20      (vi) An increase in taxable value attributable to the                        

                                                                                

21  complete or partial remediation of environmental contamination              

                                                                                

22  existing on the immediately preceding tax day.  The department of           

                                                                                

23  environmental quality shall determine the degree of remediation             

                                                                                

24  based on information available in existing department of                    

                                                                                

25  environmental quality records or information made available to              

                                                                                

26  the department of environmental quality if the appropriate                  

                                                                                

27  assessing officer for a local tax collecting unit requests that             


                                                                                

1   determination.  The increase in taxable value attributable to the           

                                                                                

2   remediation is the increase in true cash value attributable to              

                                                                                

3   the remediation multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which             

                                                                                

4   is the taxable value of the property had it not been contaminated           

                                                                                

5   and the denominator of which is the true cash value of the                  

                                                                                

6   property had it not been contaminated.                                      

                                                                                

7       (vii) An increase in the value attributable to the property's                

                                                                                

8   occupancy rate if either a loss, as that term is defined in this            

                                                                                

9   section, had been previously allowed because of a decrease in the           

                                                                                

10  property's occupancy rate or if the value of new construction was           

                                                                                

11  reduced because of a below-market occupancy rate.  For purposes             

                                                                                

12  of determining the taxable value of property under section 27a,             

                                                                                

13  the value of an addition for the increased occupancy rate is the            

                                                                                

14  product of the increase in the true cash value of the property              

                                                                                

15  attributable to the increased occupancy rate multiplied by a                

                                                                                

16  fraction the numerator of which is the taxable value of the                 

                                                                                

17  property in the immediately preceding year and the denominator of           

                                                                                

18  which is the true cash value of the property in the immediately             

                                                                                

19  preceding year, and then multiplied by the lesser of 1.05 or the            

                                                                                

20  inflation rate.                                                             

                                                                                

21      (viii) Public services.  As used in this subparagraph,                        

                                                                                

22  "public services" means water service, sewer service, a primary             

                                                                                

23  access road, natural gas service, electrical service, telephone             

                                                                                

24  service, sidewalks, or street lighting.  For purposes of                    

                                                                                

25  determining the taxable value of real property under section 27a,           

                                                                                

26  the value of public services is the amount of increase in true              

                                                                                

27  cash value of the property attributable to the available public             


                                                                                

1   services multiplied by 0.50 and shall be added in the calendar              

                                                                                

2   year following the calendar year when those public services are             

                                                                                

3   initially available.                                                        

                                                                                

4       (c) For taxes levied after 1994, additions do not include                   

                                                                                

5   increased value attributable to any of the following:                       

                                                                                

6                                                                                (i) Platting, splits, or combinations of property.                                  

                                                                                

7       (ii) A change in the zoning of property.                                     

                                                                                

8       (iii) For the purposes of the calculation of the millage                     

                                                                                

9   reduction fraction under subsection (7) only, increased taxable             

                                                                                

10  value under section 27a(3) after a transfer of ownership of                 

                                                                                

11  property.                                                                   

                                                                                

12      (iv) New construction on real property classified as                         

                                                                                

13  residential real property under section 34c that is owned by a              

                                                                                

14  charitable housing organization.  As used in this subdivision:              

                                                                                

15      (A) "Charitable housing organization" means a nonprofit                     

                                                                                

16  charitable organization the primary purpose of which is the                 

                                                                                

17  construction or renovation of residential housing for conveyance            

                                                                                

18  to a low income person.                                                     

                                                                                

19      (B) "Family income" and "statewide median gross income" mean                

                                                                                

20  those terms as defined in section 11 of the state housing                   

                                                                                

21  development authority act of 1966, 1966 PA 346, MCL 125.1411.               

                                                                                

22      (C) "Low income person" means a person with a family income                 

                                                                                

23  of not more than 60% of the statewide median gross income.                  

                                                                                

24      (d) "Assessed valuation of property as finally equalized"                   

                                                                                

25  means taxable value under section 27a.                                      

                                                                                

26      (e) "Financial officer" means the officer responsible for                   

                                                                                

27  preparing the budget of a unit of local government.                         


                                                                                

1       (f) "General price level" means the annual average of the 12                

                                                                                

2   monthly values for the United States consumer price index for all           

                                                                                

3   urban consumers as defined and officially reported by the United            

                                                                                

4   States department of labor, bureau of labor statistics.                     

                                                                                

5       (g) For taxes levied before 1995, "losses" means a decrease                 

                                                                                

6   in value caused by the removal or destruction of real or personal           

                                                                                

7   property and the value of property taxed in the immediately                 

                                                                                

8   preceding year that has been exempted or removed from the                   

                                                                                

9   assessment unit's assessment roll.                                          

                                                                                

10      (h) For taxes levied after 1994, "losses" means, except as                  

                                                                                

11  provided in subdivision (i), all of the following:                          

                                                                                

12                                                                               (i) Property that has been destroyed or removed.  For                               

                                                                                

13  purposes of determining the taxable value of property under                 

                                                                                

14  section 27a, the value of property destroyed or removed is the              

                                                                                

15  product of the true cash value of that property multiplied by a             

                                                                                

16  fraction the numerator of which is the taxable value of that                

                                                                                

17  property in the immediately preceding year and the denominator of           

                                                                                

18  which is the true cash value of that property in the immediately            

                                                                                

19  preceding year.                                                             

                                                                                

20      (ii) Property that was subject to ad valorem taxation under                  

                                                                                

21  this act in the immediately preceding year that is now exempt               

                                                                                

22  from ad valorem taxation under this act.  For purposes of                   

                                                                                

23  determining the taxable value of property under section 27a, the            

                                                                                

24  value of property exempted from ad valorem taxation under this              

                                                                                

25  act is the amount exempted.                                                 

                                                                                

26      (iii) An adjustment in value, if any, because of a decrease                  

                                                                                

27  in the property's occupancy rate, to the extent provided by law.            


                                                                                

1   For purposes of determining the taxable value of real property              

                                                                                

2   under section 27a, the value of a loss for a decrease in the                

                                                                                

3   property's occupancy rate is the product of the decrease in the             

                                                                                

4   true cash value of the property attributable to the decreased               

                                                                                

5   occupancy rate multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is           

                                                                                

6   the taxable value of the property in the immediately preceding              

                                                                                

7   year and the denominator of which is the true cash value of the             

                                                                                

8   property in the immediately preceding year.                                 

                                                                                

9       (iv) A decrease in taxable value attributable to                             

                                                                                

10  environmental contamination existing on the immediately preceding           

                                                                                

11  tax day.  The department of environmental quality shall determine           

                                                                                

12  the degree to which environmental contamination limits the use of           

                                                                                

13  property based on information available in existing department of           

                                                                                

14  environmental quality records or information made available to              

                                                                                

15  the department of environmental quality if the appropriate                  

                                                                                

16  assessing officer for a local tax collecting unit requests that             

                                                                                

17  determination.  The department of environmental quality's                   

                                                                                

18  determination of the degree to which environmental contamination            

                                                                                

19  limits the use of property shall be based on the criteria                   

                                                                                

20  established for the  classifications  categories set forth in               

                                                                                

21  section 20120a(1) of part 201  (environmental remediation)  of              

                                                                                

22  the natural resources and environmental protection act,  Act                

                                                                                

23  No. 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being section 324.20120a of             

                                                                                

24  the Michigan Compiled Laws  1994 PA 451, MCL 324.20120a.  The               

                                                                                

25  decrease in taxable value attributable to the contamination is              

                                                                                

26  the decrease in true cash value attributable to the contamination           

                                                                                

27  multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the taxable              


                                                                                

1   value of the property had it not been contaminated and the                  

                                                                                

2   denominator of which is the true cash value of the property had             

                                                                                

3   it not been contaminated.                                                   

                                                                                

4       (i) For taxes levied after 1994, losses do not include                      

                                                                                

5   decreased value attributable to either of the following:                    

                                                                                

6                                                                                (i) Platting, splits, or combinations of property.                                  

                                                                                

7       (ii) A change in the zoning of property.                                     

                                                                                

8       (j) "New construction and improvements" means additions less                

                                                                                

9   losses.                                                                     

                                                                                

10      (k) "Current year" means the year for which the millage                     

                                                                                

11  limitation is being calculated.                                             

                                                                                

12                                                                               (l) "Inflation rate" means the ratio of the general price                           

                                                                                

13  level for the state fiscal year ending in the calendar year                 

                                                                                

14  immediately preceding the current year divided by the general               

                                                                                

15  price level for the state fiscal year ending in the calendar year           

                                                                                

16  before the year immediately preceding the current year.                     

                                                                                

17      (2) On or before the first Monday in May of each year, the                  

                                                                                

18  assessing officer of each township or city shall tabulate the               

                                                                                

19  tentative taxable value as approved by the local board of review            

                                                                                

20  and as modified by county equalization for each classification of           

                                                                                

21  property that is separately equalized for each unit of local                

                                                                                

22  government and provide the tabulated tentative taxable values to            

                                                                                

23  the county equalization director.  The tabulation by the                    

                                                                                

24  assessing officer shall contain additions and losses for each               

                                                                                

25  classification of property that is separately equalized for each            

                                                                                

26  unit of local government or part of a unit of local government in           

                                                                                

27  the township or city.  If as a result of state equalization the             


                                                                                

1   taxable value of property changes, the assessing officer of each            

                                                                                

2   township or city shall revise the calculations required by this             

                                                                                

3   subsection on or before the Friday following the fourth Monday in           

                                                                                

4   May.  The county equalization director shall compute these                  

                                                                                

5   amounts and the current and immediately preceding year's taxable            

                                                                                

6   values for each classification of property that is separately               

                                                                                

7   equalized for each unit of local government that levies taxes               

                                                                                

8   under this act within the boundary of the county.  The county               

                                                                                

9   equalization director shall cooperate with equalization directors           

                                                                                

10  of neighboring counties, as necessary, to make the computation              

                                                                                

11  for units of local government located in more than 1 county.  The           

                                                                                

12  county equalization director shall calculate the millage                    

                                                                                

13  reduction fraction for each unit of local government in the                 

                                                                                

14  county for the current year.  The financial officer for each                

                                                                                

15  taxing jurisdiction shall calculate the compounded millage                  

                                                                                

16  reduction fractions beginning in 1980 resulting from the                    

                                                                                

17  multiplication of successive millage reduction fractions and                

                                                                                

18  shall recognize a local voter action to increase the compounded             

                                                                                

19  millage reduction fraction to a maximum of 1 as a new beginning             

                                                                                

20  fraction.  Upon request of the superintendent of the intermediate           

                                                                                

21  school district, the county equalization director shall transmit            

                                                                                

22  the complete computations of the taxable values to the                      

                                                                                

23  superintendent of the intermediate school district within that              

                                                                                

24  county.  At the request of the presidents of community colleges,            

                                                                                

25  the county equalization director shall transmit the complete                

                                                                                

26  computations of the taxable values to the presidents of community           

                                                                                

27  colleges within the county.                                                 


                                                                                

1       (3) On or before the first Monday in June of each year, the                 

                                                                                

2   county equalization director shall deliver the statement of the             

                                                                                

3   computations signed by the county equalization director to the              

                                                                                

4   county treasurer.                                                           

                                                                                

5       (4) On or before the second Monday in June of each year, the                

                                                                                

6   treasurer of each county shall certify the immediately preceding            

                                                                                

7   year's taxable values, the current year's taxable values, the               

                                                                                

8   amount of additions and losses for the current year, and the                

                                                                                

9   current year's millage reduction fraction for each unit of local            

                                                                                

10  government that levies a property tax in the county.                        

                                                                                

11      (5) The financial officer of each unit of local government                  

                                                                                

12  shall make the computation of the tax rate using the data                   

                                                                                

13  certified by the county treasurer and the state tax commission.             

                                                                                

14  At the annual session in October, the county board of                       

                                                                                

15  commissioners shall not authorize the levy of a tax unless the              

                                                                                

16  governing body of the taxing jurisdiction has certified that the            

                                                                                

17  requested millage has been reduced, if necessary, in compliance             

                                                                                

18  with section 31 of article IX of the state constitution of 1963.            

                                                                                

19      (6) The number of mills permitted to be levied in a tax year                

                                                                                

20  is limited as provided in this section pursuant to section 31 of            

                                                                                

21  article IX of the state constitution of 1963.  A unit of local              

                                                                                

22  government shall not levy a tax rate greater than the rate                  

                                                                                

23  determined by reducing its maximum rate or rates authorized by              

                                                                                

24  law or charter by a millage reduction fraction as provided in               

                                                                                

25  this section without voter approval.                                        

                                                                                

26      (7) A millage reduction fraction shall be determined for each               

                                                                                

27  year for each local unit of government.  For ad valorem property            


                                                                                

1   taxes that became a lien before January 1, 1983, the numerator of           

                                                                                

2   the fraction shall be the total state equalized valuation for the           

                                                                                

3   immediately preceding year multiplied by the inflation rate and             

                                                                                

4   the denominator of the fraction shall be the total state                    

                                                                                

5   equalized valuation for the current year minus new construction             

                                                                                

6   and improvements.  For ad valorem property taxes that become a              

                                                                                

7   lien after December 31, 1982 and through December 31, 1994, the             

                                                                                

8   numerator of the fraction shall be the product of the difference            

                                                                                

9   between the total state equalized valuation for the immediately             

                                                                                

10  preceding year minus losses multiplied by the inflation rate and            

                                                                                

11  the denominator of the fraction shall be the total state                    

                                                                                

12  equalized valuation for the current year minus additions.  For ad           

                                                                                

13  valorem property taxes that are levied after December 31, 1994,             

                                                                                

14  the numerator of the fraction shall be the product of the                   

                                                                                

15  difference between the total taxable value for the immediately              

                                                                                

16  preceding year minus losses multiplied by the inflation rate and            

                                                                                

17  the denominator of the fraction shall be the total taxable value            

                                                                                

18  for the current year minus additions.  For each year after 1993,            

                                                                                

19  a millage reduction fraction shall not exceed 1.                            

                                                                                

20      (8) The compounded millage reduction fraction for each year                 

                                                                                

21  after 1980 shall be calculated by multiplying the local unit's              

                                                                                

22  previous year's compounded millage reduction fraction by the                

                                                                                

23  current year's millage reduction fraction.  Beginning with 1980             

                                                                                

24  tax levies, the compounded millage reduction fraction for the               

                                                                                

25  year shall be multiplied by the maximum millage rate authorized             

                                                                                

26  by law or charter for the unit of local government for the year,            

                                                                                

27  except as provided by subsection (9).  A compounded millage                 


                                                                                

1   reduction fraction shall not exceed 1.                                      

                                                                                

2       (9) The millage reduction shall be determined separately for                

                                                                                

3   authorized millage approved by the voters.  The limitation on               

                                                                                

4   millage authorized by the voters on or before May 31 of a year              

                                                                                

5   shall be calculated beginning with the millage reduction fraction           

                                                                                

6   for that year.  Millage authorized by the voters after May 31               

                                                                                

7   shall not be subject to a millage reduction until the year                  

                                                                                

8   following the voter authorization which shall be calculated                 

                                                                                

9   beginning with the millage reduction fraction for the year                  

                                                                                

10  following the authorization.  The first millage reduction                   

                                                                                

11  fraction used in calculating the limitation on millage approved             

                                                                                

12  by the voters after January 1, 1979 shall not exceed 1.                     

                                                                                

13      (10) A millage reduction fraction shall be applied separately               

                                                                                

14  to the aggregate maximum millage rate authorized by a charter and           

                                                                                

15  to each maximum millage rate authorized by state law for a                  

                                                                                

16  specific purpose.                                                           

                                                                                

17      (11) A unit of local government may submit to the voters for                

                                                                                

18  their approval the levy in that year of a tax rate in excess of             

                                                                                

19  the limit set by this section.  The ballot question shall ask the           

                                                                                

20  voters to approve the levy of a specific number of mills in                 

                                                                                

21  excess of the limit.  The provisions of this section do not allow           

                                                                                

22  the levy of a millage rate in excess of the maximum rate                    

                                                                                

23  authorized by law or charter.  If the authorization to levy                 

                                                                                

24  millage expires after 1993 and a local governmental unit is                 

                                                                                

25  asking voters to renew the authorization to levy the millage, the           

                                                                                

26  ballot question shall ask for renewed authorization for the                 

                                                                                

27  number of expiring mills as reduced by the millage reduction                


                                                                                

1   required by this section.  If the election occurs before June 1             

                                                                                

2   of a year, the millage reduction is based on the immediately                

                                                                                

3   preceding year's millage reduction applicable to that millage.              

                                                                                

4   If the election occurs after May 31 of a year, the millage                  

                                                                                

5   reduction shall be based on that year's millage reduction                   

                                                                                

6   applicable to that millage had it not expired.                              

                                                                                

7       (12) A reduction or limitation under this section shall not                 

                                                                                

8   be applied to taxes imposed for the payment of principal and                

                                                                                

9   interest on bonds or other evidence of indebtedness or for the              

                                                                                

10  payment of assessments or contract obligations in anticipation of           

                                                                                

11  which bonds are issued that were authorized before December 23,             

                                                                                

12  1978, as provided by former section 4 of chapter I of the                   

                                                                                

13  municipal finance act,  Act No. 202 of the Public Acts of 1943              

                                                                                

14  1943 PA 202, or to taxes imposed for the payment of principal and           

                                                                                

15  interest on bonds or other evidence of indebtedness or for the              

                                                                                

16  payment of assessments or contract obligations in anticipation of           

                                                                                

17  which bonds are issued that are approved by the voters after                

                                                                                

18  December 22, 1978.                                                          

                                                                                

19      (13) If it is determined subsequent to the levy of a tax that               

                                                                                

20  an incorrect millage reduction fraction has been applied, the               

                                                                                

21  amount of additional tax revenue or the shortage of tax revenue             

                                                                                

22  shall be deducted from or added to the next regular tax levy for            

                                                                                

23  that unit of local government after the determination of the                

                                                                                

24  authorized rate pursuant to this section.                                   

                                                                                

25      (14) If as a result of an appeal of county equalization or                  

                                                                                

26  state equalization the taxable value of a unit of local                     

                                                                                

27  government changes, the millage reduction fraction for the year             


                                                                                

1   shall be recalculated.  The financial officer shall effectuate an           

                                                                                

2   addition or reduction of tax revenue in the same manner as                  

                                                                                

3   prescribed in subsection (13).                                              

                                                                                

4       (15) The fractions calculated pursuant to this section shall                

                                                                                

5   be rounded to 4 decimal places, except that the inflation rate              

                                                                                

6   shall be computed by the state tax commission and shall be                  

                                                                                

7   rounded to 3 decimal places.  The state tax commission shall                

                                                                                

8   publish the inflation rate before March 1 of each year.                     

                                                                                

9       (16) Beginning with taxes levied in 1994, the millage                       

                                                                                

10  reduction required by section 31 of article IX of the state                 

                                                                                

11  constitution of 1963 shall permanently reduce the maximum rate or           

                                                                                

12  rates authorized by law or charter.  The reduced maximum                    

                                                                                

13  authorized rate or rates for 1994 shall equal the product of the            

                                                                                

14  maximum rate or rates authorized by law or charter before                   

                                                                                

15  application of this section multiplied by the  compound                     

                                                                                

16  compounded millage reduction applicable to that millage in 1994             

                                                                                

17  pursuant to subsections (8) to (12).  The reduced maximum                   

                                                                                

18  authorized rate or rates for 1995 and each year after 1995 shall            

                                                                                

19  equal the product of the immediately preceding year's reduced               

                                                                                

20  maximum authorized rate or rates multiplied by the current year's           

                                                                                

21  millage reduction fraction and shall be adjusted for millage for            

                                                                                

22  which authorization has expired and new authorized millage                  

                                                                                

23  approved by the voters pursuant to subsections (8) to (12).