January 27, 2005, Introduced by Rep. Stewart and referred to the Committee on Tax Policy.
A bill to amend 1893 PA 206, entitled
"The general property tax act,"
by amending section 34d (MCL 211.34d), as amended by 1996 PA 476.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 34d. (1) As used in this section or section 27a, or
section 3 or 31 of article IX of the state constitution of 1963:
(a) For taxes levied before 1995, "additions" means all
increases in value caused by new construction or a physical
addition of equipment or furnishings, and the value of property
that was exempt from taxes or not included on the assessment unit's
immediately preceding year's assessment roll.
(b) For taxes levied after 1994, "additions" means, except as
provided in subdivision (c), all of the following:
(i) Omitted real property. As used in this subparagraph,
"omitted real property" means previously existing tangible real
property not included in the assessment. Omitted real property
shall not increase taxable value as an addition unless the
assessing jurisdiction has a property record card or other
documentation showing that the omitted real property was not
previously included in the assessment. The assessing jurisdiction
has the burden of proof in establishing whether the omitted real
property is included in the assessment. Omitted real property for
the current and the 2 immediately preceding years, discovered after
the assessment roll has been completed, shall be added to the tax
roll pursuant to the procedures established in section 154. For
purposes of determining the taxable value of real property under
section 27a, the value of omitted real property is based on the
value and the ratio of taxable value to true cash value the omitted
real property would have had if the property had not been omitted.
(ii) Omitted personal property. As used in this subparagraph,
"omitted personal property" means previously existing tangible
personal property not included in the assessment. Omitted personal
property shall be added to the tax roll pursuant to section 154.
(iii) New construction. As used in this subparagraph, "new
construction" means property not in existence on the immediately
preceding tax day and not replacement construction. New
construction includes the physical addition of equipment or
furnishings, subject to the provisions set forth in section
27(2)(a) to (o). For purposes of determining the taxable value of
property under section 27a, the value of new construction is the
true cash value of the new construction multiplied by 0.50.
(iv) Previously exempt property. As used in this subparagraph,
"previously exempt property" means property that was exempt from ad
valorem taxation under this act on the immediately preceding tax
day but is subject to ad valorem taxation on the current tax day
under this act and includes the difference between the taxable
value and state equalized valuation of the property on the tax day
immediately preceding the year in which the transfer of ownership
occurs. For purposes of determining the taxable value of real
property under section 27a:
(A) The value of property previously exempt under section 7u
is the taxable value the entire parcel of property would have had
if that property had not been exempt, minus the product of the
entire parcel's taxable value in the immediately preceding year and
the lesser of 1.05 or the inflation rate.
(B) The taxable value of property that is a facility as that
term
is defined in section 2 of Act No. 198 of the Public Acts of
1974,
being section 207.552 of the Michigan Compiled Laws 1974
PA
198, MCL 207.552, that was previously exempt under section 7k is
the taxable value that property would have had under this act if it
had not been exempt.
(C) The value of property previously exempt under any other
section of law is the true cash value of the previously exempt
property multiplied by 0.50.
(v) Replacement construction. As used in this subparagraph,
"replacement construction" means construction that replaced
property damaged or destroyed by accident or act of God and that
occurred after the immediately preceding tax day to the extent the
construction's true cash value does not exceed the true cash value
of property that was damaged or destroyed by accident or act of God
in the immediately preceding 3 years. For purposes of determining
the taxable value of property under section 27a, the value of the
replacement construction is the true cash value of the replacement
construction multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the
taxable value of the property to which the construction was added
in the immediately preceding year and the denominator of which is
the true cash value of the property to which the construction was
added in the immediately preceding year, and then multiplied by the
lesser of 1.05 or the inflation rate.
(vi) An increase in taxable value attributable to the complete
or partial remediation of environmental contamination existing on
the immediately preceding tax day. The department of environmental
quality shall determine the degree of remediation based on
information available in existing department of environmental
quality records or information made available to the department of
environmental quality if the appropriate assessing officer for a
local tax collecting unit requests that determination. The increase
in taxable value attributable to the remediation is the increase in
true cash value attributable to the remediation multiplied by a
fraction the numerator of which is the taxable value of the
property had it not been contaminated and the denominator of which
is the true cash value of the property had it not been
contaminated.
(vii) An increase in the value attributable to the property's
occupancy rate if either a loss, as that term is defined in this
section, had been previously allowed because of a decrease in the
property's occupancy rate or if the value of new construction was
reduced because of a below-market occupancy rate. For purposes of
determining the taxable value of property under section 27a, the
value of an addition for the increased occupancy rate is the
product of the increase in the true cash value of the property
attributable to the increased occupancy rate multiplied by a
fraction the numerator of which is the taxable value of the
property in the immediately preceding year and the denominator of
which is the true cash value of the property in the immediately
preceding year, and then multiplied by the lesser of 1.05 or the
inflation rate.
(viii) Public services. As used in this subparagraph, "public
services" means water service, sewer service, a primary access
road, natural gas service, electrical service, telephone service,
sidewalks, or street lighting. For purposes of determining the
taxable value of real property under section 27a, the value of
public services is the amount of increase in true cash value of the
property attributable to the available public services multiplied
by 0.50 and shall be added in the calendar year following the
calendar year when those public services are initially available.
(c) For taxes levied after 1994, additions do not include
increased value attributable to any of the following:
(i) Platting, splits, or combinations of property.
(ii) A change in the zoning of property.
(iii) For the purposes of the calculation of the millage
reduction
fraction under subsection (7) only, increased taxable
value
under section 27a(3) after a transfer of ownership of
property.
(d) "Assessed valuation of property as finally equalized"
means taxable value under section 27a.
(e) "Financial officer" means the officer responsible for
preparing the budget of a unit of local government.
(f) "General price level" means the annual average of the 12
monthly values for the United States consumer price index for all
urban consumers as defined and officially reported by the United
States department of labor, bureau of labor statistics.
(g) For taxes levied before 1995, "losses" means a decrease in
value caused by the removal or destruction of real or personal
property and the value of property taxed in the immediately
preceding year that has been exempted or removed from the
assessment unit's assessment roll.
(h) For taxes levied after 1994, "losses" means, except as
provided in subdivision (i), all of the following:
(i) Property that has been destroyed or removed. For purposes
of determining the taxable value of property under section 27a, the
value of property destroyed or removed is the product of the true
cash value of that property multiplied by a fraction the numerator
of which is the taxable value of that property in the immediately
preceding year and the denominator of which is the true cash value
of that property in the immediately preceding year.
(ii) Property that was subject to ad valorem taxation under
this act in the immediately preceding year that is now exempt from
ad valorem taxation under this act. For purposes of determining the
taxable value of property under section 27a, the value of property
exempted from ad valorem taxation under this act is the amount
exempted.
(iii) An adjustment in value, if any, because of a decrease in
the property's occupancy rate, to the extent provided by law. For
purposes of determining the taxable value of real property under
section 27a, the value of a loss for a decrease in the property's
occupancy rate is the product of the decrease in the true cash
value of the property attributable to the decreased occupancy rate
multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the taxable
value of the property in the immediately preceding year and the
denominator of which is the true cash value of the property in the
immediately preceding year.
(iv) A decrease in taxable value attributable to environmental
contamination existing on the immediately preceding tax day. The
department of environmental quality shall determine the degree to
which environmental contamination limits the use of property based
on information available in existing department of environmental
quality records or information made available to the department of
environmental quality if the appropriate assessing officer for a
local tax collecting unit requests that determination. The
department of environmental quality's determination of the degree
to which environmental contamination limits the use of property
shall
be based on the criteria established for the classifications
categories set forth in section 20120a(1) of part 201
(environmental
remediation) of the natural
resources and
environmental
protection act, Act No. 451 of the Public Acts of
1994,
being section 324.20120a of the Michigan Compiled Laws 1994
PA 451, MCL 324.20120a. The decrease in taxable value attributable
to the contamination is the decrease in true cash value
attributable to the contamination multiplied by a fraction the
numerator of which is the taxable value of the property had it not
been contaminated and the denominator of which is the true cash
value of the property had it not been contaminated.
(i) For taxes levied after 1994, losses do not include
decreased value attributable to either of the following:
(i) Platting, splits, or combinations of property.
(ii) A change in the zoning of property.
(j) "New construction and improvements" means additions less
losses.
(k) "Current year" means the year for which the millage
limitation is being calculated.
(l) "Inflation rate" means the ratio of the general price level
for the state fiscal year ending in the calendar year immediately
preceding the current year divided by the general price level for
the state fiscal year ending in the calendar year before the year
immediately preceding the current year.
(2) On or before the first Monday in May of each year, the
assessing officer of each township or city shall tabulate the
tentative taxable value as approved by the local board of review
and as modified by county equalization for each classification of
property that is separately equalized for each unit of local
government and provide the tabulated tentative taxable values to
the county equalization director. The tabulation by the assessing
officer shall contain additions and losses for each classification
of property that is separately equalized for each unit of local
government or part of a unit of local government in the township or
city. If as a result of state equalization the taxable value of
property changes, the assessing officer of each township or city
shall revise the calculations required by this subsection on or
before the Friday following the fourth Monday in May. The county
equalization director shall compute these amounts and the current
and immediately preceding year's taxable values for each
classification of property that is separately equalized for each
unit of local government that levies taxes under this act within
the boundary of the county. The county equalization director shall
cooperate with equalization directors of neighboring counties, as
necessary, to make the computation for units of local government
located in more than 1 county. The county equalization director
shall calculate the millage reduction fraction for each unit of
local government in the county for the current year. The financial
officer for each taxing jurisdiction shall calculate the compounded
millage reduction fractions beginning in 1980 resulting from the
multiplication of successive millage reduction fractions and shall
recognize a local voter action to increase the compounded millage
reduction fraction to a maximum of 1 as a new beginning fraction.
Upon request of the superintendent of the intermediate school
district, the county equalization director shall transmit the
complete computations of the taxable values to the superintendent
of the intermediate school district within that county. At the
request of the presidents of community colleges, the county
equalization director shall transmit the complete computations of
the taxable values to the presidents of community colleges within
the county.
(3) On or before the first Monday in June of each year, the
county equalization director shall deliver the statement of the
computations signed by the county equalization director to the
county treasurer.
(4) On or before the second Monday in June of each year, the
treasurer of each county shall certify the immediately preceding
year's taxable values, the current year's taxable values, the
amount of additions and losses for the current year, and the
current year's millage reduction fraction for each unit of local
government that levies a property tax in the county.
(5) The financial officer of each unit of local government
shall make the computation of the tax rate using the data certified
by the county treasurer and the state tax commission. At the annual
session in October, the county board of commissioners shall not
authorize the levy of a tax unless the governing body of the taxing
jurisdiction has certified that the requested millage has been
reduced, if necessary, in compliance with section 31 of article IX
of the state constitution of 1963.
(6) The number of mills permitted to be levied in a tax year
is limited as provided in this section pursuant to section 31 of
article IX of the state constitution of 1963. A unit of local
government shall not levy a tax rate greater than the rate
determined by reducing its maximum rate or rates authorized by law
or charter by a millage reduction fraction as provided in this
section without voter approval.
(7) A millage reduction fraction shall be determined for each
year for each local unit of government. For ad valorem property
taxes that became a lien before January 1, 1983, the numerator of
the fraction shall be the total state equalized valuation for the
immediately preceding year multiplied by the inflation rate and the
denominator of the fraction shall be the total state equalized
valuation for the current year minus new construction and
improvements. For ad valorem property taxes that become a lien
after December 31, 1982 and through December 31, 1994, the
numerator of the fraction shall be the product of the difference
between the total state equalized valuation for the immediately
preceding year minus losses multiplied by the inflation rate and
the denominator of the fraction shall be the total state equalized
valuation for the current year minus additions. For ad valorem
property taxes that are levied after December 31, 1994, the
numerator of the fraction shall be the product of the difference
between the total taxable value for the immediately preceding year
minus losses multiplied by the inflation rate and the denominator
of the fraction shall be the total taxable value for the current
year minus additions. For each year after 1993 and before 2003, a
millage reduction fraction shall not exceed 1.
(8) The compounded millage reduction fraction for each year
after 1980 shall be calculated by multiplying the local unit's
previous year's compounded millage reduction fraction by the
current year's millage reduction fraction. Beginning with 1980 tax
levies, the compounded millage reduction fraction for the year
shall be multiplied by the maximum millage rate authorized by law
or charter for the unit of local government for the year, except as
provided
by subsection (9). A For
each year after 1993 and before
2003, a compounded millage reduction fraction shall not exceed 1.
(9) The millage reduction shall be determined separately for
authorized millage approved by the voters. The limitation on
millage authorized by the voters on or before May 31 of a year
shall be calculated beginning with the millage reduction fraction
for that year. Millage authorized by the voters after May 31 shall
not be subject to a millage reduction until the year following the
voter authorization which shall be calculated beginning with the
millage reduction fraction for the year following the
authorization. The first millage reduction fraction used in
calculating the limitation on millage approved by the voters after
January 1, 1979 shall not exceed 1.
(10) A millage reduction fraction shall be applied separately
to the aggregate maximum millage rate authorized by a charter and
to each maximum millage rate authorized by state law for a specific
purpose.
(11) A unit of local government may submit to the voters for
their approval the levy in that year of a tax rate in excess of the
limit set by this section. The ballot question shall ask the voters
to approve the levy of a specific number of mills in excess of the
limit. The provisions of this section do not allow the levy of a
millage rate in excess of the maximum rate authorized by law or
charter. If the authorization to levy millage expires after 1993
and a local governmental unit is asking voters to renew the
authorization to levy the millage, the ballot question shall ask
for renewed authorization for the number of expiring mills as
reduced by the millage reduction required by this section. If the
election occurs before June 1 of a year, the millage reduction is
based on the immediately preceding year's millage reduction
applicable to that millage. If the election occurs after May 31 of
a year, the millage reduction shall be based on that year's millage
reduction applicable to that millage had it not expired.
(12) A reduction or limitation under this section shall not be
applied to taxes imposed for the payment of principal and interest
on bonds or other evidence of indebtedness or for the payment of
assessments or contract obligations in anticipation of which bonds
are issued that were authorized before December 23, 1978, as
provided
by former section 4 of chapter I of the municipal finance
act,
Act No. 202 of the Public Acts of 1943 former 1943 PA 202, or
to taxes imposed for the payment of principal and interest on bonds
or other evidence of indebtedness or for the payment of assessments
or contract obligations in anticipation of which bonds are issued
that are approved by the voters after December 22, 1978.
(13) If it is determined subsequent to the levy of a tax that
an incorrect millage reduction fraction has been applied, the
amount of additional tax revenue or the shortage of tax revenue
shall be deducted from or added to the next regular tax levy for
that unit of local government after the determination of the
authorized rate pursuant to this section.
(14) If as a result of an appeal of county equalization or
state equalization the taxable value of a unit of local government
changes, the millage reduction fraction for the year shall be
recalculated. The financial officer shall effectuate an addition or
reduction of tax revenue in the same manner as prescribed in
subsection (13).
(15) The fractions calculated pursuant to this section shall
be rounded to 4 decimal places, except that the inflation rate
shall be computed by the state tax commission and shall be rounded
to 3 decimal places. The state tax commission shall publish the
inflation rate before March 1 of each year.
(16) Beginning with taxes levied in 1994 and before 2003, the
millage reduction required by section 31 of article IX of the state
constitution of 1963 shall permanently reduce the maximum rate or
rates authorized by law or charter. The reduced maximum authorized
rate or rates for 1994 and the reduced maximum authorized rate or
rates for 2003 and each year after 2003 shall equal the product of
the maximum rate or rates authorized by law or charter before
application
of this section multiplied by the compound compounded
millage reduction applicable to that millage in 1994 or in 2003 and
each year after 2003 pursuant to subsections (8) to (12). The
reduced
maximum authorized rate or rates for 1995 and each year
after
1995 prior to 2003 shall equal the product of the
immediately preceding year's reduced maximum authorized rate or
rates multiplied by the current year's millage reduction fraction
and shall be adjusted for millage for which authorization has
expired and new authorized millage approved by the voters pursuant
to subsections (8) to (12).