Frequently Asked Questions

A principal residence is exempt from school operating taxes levied by the school district up to 18 mills.  A homeowner's principal residence is defined as: "the one place where an owner of the property has his or her true, fixed and permanent home to which, whenever absent, he or she intends to return and that shall continue as a principal residence until another principal residence is established." 

Laws regarding PRE are established by the State of Michigan.  Property owners may claim only one PRE.  A husband and wife filing income tax returns jointly are entitled to only one PRE.  The law allows a temporary additional exemption for up to 3 years on a home that is listed for sale and unoccupied (among other qualifications), and is referred to as a Conditional Rescind.  The law also allows members of the armed forces to retain their exemption if they rent their home while away on active duty. Click here to be taken to the State of Michigan's FAQs regarding PRE.

The annual deadline for being eligible for PRE is June 1.  If a homeowner intends to claim PRE, they must file for and qualify for PRE by June 1.  All PRE forms are reviewed by the Assessing Department.  Exemptions filed in prior years are valid until rescinded.

The summer property tax bills are mailed in early July of each year and are due on September 14th.

The taxable value of a property is the value against which property taxes are calculated.  Current taxable value for a property can be found on a property tax statement or by visiting our property information system. Click here to go to our BSA property information system.

A millage rate is the rate at which property taxes are levied on property. One mill is 1/1000 of a dollar.  Property taxes are computed by multiplying the taxable value of the property by the number of mills levied.

For example, if a school operating tax is 18 mills, that's $18 per every $1,000 of taxable value.  If a property has $100,000 of taxable value the formula is: 18X100 = $1,800 in school operating tax.

Millage rates can be found on a property tax statement or by checking your property's tax information on the BSA property information system. Click here to go to the BSA property tax information system.

You may place your payment in the Township payment drop box located at the south face of the library near Baldwin St.  Payments placed in the drop box any time on the due date will be considered on time.