CHIPPEWA COUNTY

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

EQUALIZATION AND APPORTIONMENT COMMITTEE

Jim Moore, Chairman

 

 

A regular meeting of the Chippewa County Board of Commissioners Equalization and Apportionment Committee was held on Thursday, June 1, 2006 at the Chippewa County Courthouse in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan.  Chairman James Moore called the meeting to order at 5:05 pm with a quorum present.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:           James Moore, Chairman,  Commissioner Don Cooper, and

Commissioner Scott Shackleton

 

OTHERS PRESENT:               Sharon Kennedy, Equalization Director

                                                 

 

Agenda Item:  Approval of the Agenda

 

It was moved by Commissioner Shackleton and seconded by Commissioner Cooper to approve the agenda as presented. 

 

On a voice vote, the motion passed.

 

Agenda Item:  2006 EQUALIZATION REPORT.

 

Equalization Director Kennedy presented the final 2006 County Equalization Report.  She explained that the equalized values presented in the report, as approved by the Committee in April, are the basis for calculating the County’s 2006 taxable values which are also contained in the report.  Various other helpful materials are contained in the report which assist local public agencies in fulfilling statutory responsibilities, as well as providing information for local businesses.

 

It was moved by Commissioner Cooper seconded by Commissioner Shackleton  that the Equalization Report  be accepted as presented. 

 

On a voice vote, the motion was CARRIED.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agenda Item:  2006 FINAL TAXABLE VALUE REPORT

 

Equalization Director Kennedy presented the Final Taxable Value Report, which must be filed wth the State Tax Commission by the third Monday in June, but is always prepared much earlier to accommodate Headlee and tax roll calculations.  The Taxable Value Report is shown on pages 25 and 26 of  the 2006 Equalization Report.  Mrs. Kennedy also explained that even though all of the “PILT” properties owned by the State of Michigan, and commonly known as “State Ag” property, amounting to $9,1440,377 was shifted off of the ad valorem assessment roll onto a new roll, the ad valorem taxable value of the County increased by $46,460,757 or 5.46%, which is consistent with the County’s average annual growth over the past 10 years.  She also noted that the “PILT” properties will continue to be taxed on the special roll, but only at the 2004 tax rates.   

The report was reviewed in some detail.  It was moved by Commissioner Shackleton and seconded by Commissioner Cooper that the 2006 Taxable Values be accepted as presented by Equalization Director Kennedy be adopted as reported and that all state required forms regarding same be completed and filed as per statute. 

 

 

Agenda Item:  2006 SUMMER LEVY

 

Equalization Director Kennedy reminded the Committee that P A 357 of 2004 requires the County to shift two-thirds of its allocated operating millage to the summer tax roll.  She went on to add that P A 513 of 2004, however, requires that property owned by the DNR upon which taxes are paid, can only be taxed in the winter, and only at 2004 tax rates. 

 

Mrs. Kennedy reported that after application of the Headlee millage reduction fractions, the County is entitled to levy 5.9314 mils in 2006 for allocated operating millage.  Two-thirds of that is 3.9542 mills to be collected on the summer tax rolls and the remaining 1.9772 mills for collection on the winter 2006 tax roll.  She also presented a report entitled:   Estimate of Revenues From Ad Valorem Taxes which explains the anticipated tax collections for budgetary purposes. 

 

Mrs. Kennedy also indicated that the County must formally adopt the millage it expects to collect in the summer.  To that end, a draft resolution was presented to the Committee.

 

The Committee then reviewed with Mrs. Kennedy all of the steps necessary to prepare the tax rolls, the fact that only two-thirds of the allocated millage is collected in the summer, while the balance of allocated and all of the other extra voted county millages are collected in the winter, the complicated nature of complying with the new State laws relating to tax collections, and how difficult it is for most taxpayers to understand the process.  Furthermore, the Committee reviewed a proposed press release explaining the partial tax shift and agreed that such a news release would be helpful to the general public.

 

It was moved by Commissioner Cooper and seconded by Commissioner Shackleton that 3.9542 mills be collected in the Summer of 2006, and that the Resolution as presented to the Committee be presented to the County Board for immediate adoption.

 

On a voice vote, the motion was CARRIED.

 

Commission Comments:  None

 

Chairman’s Comments:  None

 

Adjourn

 

Commissioner Cooper, seconded by Commissioner Shackleton, moved it to adjourn the meeting. 

 

On a voice vote, the motion was CARRIED.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 5:22 pm.

 

Sharon H. Kennedy, Recorder                                  James Moore, Chair