City Assessor's Office

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City Assessor's Office Overview

The City Assessor's Office is located on the 2nd floor of City Hall (Chapin Mansion) at 508 E. Main Street. The City Assessor's Office is also a division within the Finance Department.

It is my pleasure to assist you in whatever way possible.  Please do not hesitate to contact me whenever you have questions regarding the assessment of property.

The City Assessor's office  is responsible for the following:

• Annually assesses the value of real and personal properties within the City.  Performs on-site inspections, assesses the value of property improvements and the value of property losses, and prepares the necessary supporting documentation and reports.

• Calculates summer and winter property tax based on the determined property value and the Headlee millage reduction, homestead exemptions and other applicable laws and policies.  Generates semi-annual tax warrants.

• Maintains assessment rolls for the City, Downtown Development Authority, SMCAS and other taxing authorities in compliance with applicable laws and policies.  Maintains related property records and revises descriptions as needed to keep property file up-to-date.

• Conducts March, July and December Board of Review and represents the City in appeals to the Board, Tax Tribunal and other agencies.  Adjusts the tax roll as required by the Board of Review and Tax Tribunal.

• Coordinates City assessment activities with Berrien and Cass Counties and the State.  Ensures that required correspondence and documentation are submitted to appropriate agencies.

• Analyzes property sales within the City to determine current property values and  adjusts individual property valuations to reflect market changes.

• Implements regulations relating to assessment practices including Proposal A and the Headlee Amendment.  Maintains records of property transfers and homestead exemptions, and incorporates changes into the tax rolls.

• Assists in determining property values and the need for adjustments concerning property sales within the City.

• Assists citizens, real estate interests, municipal professionals and other government agencies with researching and understanding assessment policies, procedures and records.

• Keeps abreast of changes in tax law and other regulations and policies through continued education and professional growth.  Attends conferences, workshops and seminars as appropriate.

• Performs related work as required.

Property Tax Forms

If you would like to download property tax forms such as homestead exemptions or property transfer affidavits, you can do so at the Michigan Department of Treasury website.  If you would like to know how to read your property assessment notice, click here.

It's the Busy Season!

It's the busy season for home sales and land contracts.  You need to make sure these forms are filled out and turned into our office.  Land contracts do not have to be registered with the county, but if you do not notify our office or register the land contract, the uncapping of the SEV is retroactive to the start date of the land contract back to 1995.  Also you will lose the homestead and it can only be fixed for the current year and one year prior.  If you fail to fill out the forms you could be thought of as a rental unit.  For regular home sales through a realtor or title office, they will fill out the forms for you 90% of the time.