welcome to the assessing department ::
Department Director: Brian Thelen
Phone Number: (517) 323-8520
Fax Number: (517) 323-8599
Mission Statement:
The Delta Township Assessor"s Office is a multi-purpose department dedicated primarily to providing fair and equitable property tax assessments to township property owners and businesses. The Assessing Department is committed to maintaining accurate property and market value records; and to making that information easily available to the public.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Prepare the annual assessment roll consisting of 17 Agricultural, 632 Commercial, 240 Industrial, 10,786 Residential, 29 Developmental and 1,849 Personal Property Accounts. A total of 13,552 properties.
- Hold the annual March, July, and December Board of Review sessions. The purpose of the March Board of Review is to hear individual assessment appeals. The July and December Board of Review is held to correct Homeowner’s Principal Residence Exemptions claims, clerical errors and mutual mistakes in fact.
- Maintain detailed and accurate property records on all taxable Township parcels. These records are comprehensive; including ownership information, property and mailing addresses, legal descriptions, sales information, all individual building information and characteristics, building sketches, assessed and taxable value history, and digitized photographs on improved properties.
- Defense of disputed assessments before the Michigan Tax Tribunal. This includes assessment disputes for residential as well as business properties.
- Prepare all required reports as directed by the Michigan State Tax commission. Reports include the annual report of assessed and taxable values to Eaton County and the Tax Commission, IFT Tax Reports, Assessing Officer’s Report of Property Taxes Levied, and the summer and winter Assessor’s warrants authorizing the collection of taxes.
- Supply information to all parties requesting property information. This office is the key source of individual property information for Delta Township. We supply information at our counter, over the telephone, and on Delta Township’s web site. The telephone automated PAL line will no longer be unavailable after August of 2004.
- Work with other Township departments on property tax related areas of service. The Assessing database and knowledge of property tax issues is used by other departments for mapping, mailings, general information, Industrial Facilities Exemption processing, and tax billing questions.
- Prepare and mail assessment notices annually and assist in tax bill preparation bi-annually. Assessment notices are mailed once a year in February, and tax bills each July and December.
- Oversee the Delta Township Land Division Ordinance. Prior to dividing a property that is not part of a subdivision, it is to apply for approval. The Planning Department reviews the application for zoning ordinance compliance while the Assessing Department reviews for compliance with the State and local land division regulations. The purpose of the ordinance is to promulgate responsible divisions of property as defined by Michigan Land Division Act.
- Administer the Homeowner’s Principal Residence Exemption program as established by the Michigan Department of Treasury. This program requires daily review and response. Individual exemptions are constantly changing due to new owners and changing of principal residence status.
- Administer the Transfer Affidavit Program as established by the Michigan State Tax Commission. This program requires daily review and response as properties are bought and sold. Individual affidavits are filed that outline the transfer of ownership and disclose to the Assessor the terms and sale price of the transaction. These affidavits are handled simultaneously with the processing of the deeds received from the Eaton County Register of Deeds Office.
- Appraise all new Delta Township construction for addition to the Assessment Roll. Once properties are developed, the Assessors Office has the responsibility to appraise the improvements for tax purposes. The improvements are assessed using standard mass appraisal techniques.
- Assist the Township Treasurer as needed on administrative duties including bankruptcy court claims, various tax reports, and the collection of delinquent personal property taxes.
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