2010 Assessment Information

The decline in the housing market will be reflected this year when assessment change notices are mailed in late February. Residential assessments in Gaines Township will decrease an average of 8.5% in 2010. The decrease applies to areas that have had properties sell for less than double the assessed value in the past year. The changes are determined by the average relationship of sale price to assessment in a given area. If property sales are limited or non-existent in an area, the average change from surrounding neighborhoods will be taken into consideration to determine the percentage change in assessment. As mandated by law, the sales used to determine the 2010 assessments occurred between October 1, 2008 and September 30, 2009. The listing of the sales used is available on the Township website. (Please note that, based on strict guidelines issued by the State, foreclosure sales are typically not considered when determining assessments.) Agricultural properties will see limited reductions due to recent land sales that support current valuations. Most Commercial and Industrial properties will also see small reductions for 2010.

As required by the constitution (Proposal A amendment), there is a predetermined rate of change used as the basis for determining taxes. The CPI (consumer price index) this year is -0.3%. This rate will be applied to the 2009 taxable value to determine the 2010 taxable value. If the assessed value and taxable value are the same, and the assessed value is reduced more that the CPI, these two values will continue to be equal. The CPI does not apply to properties that have sold or made improvements during the year.

APPEAL INFORMATION

Assessment Change Notices (State Form #L-4400) are mailed the last week of February. Please review this notice carefully. In addition to valuation changes, it indicates Principal Residence and property transfer status as well as property classification. The Board of Review will meet, on an appointment basis, March 8 and 9, 2010 to hear appeals. If, after your receive your Assessment Change Notice, you believe the assessed valuation on your property does not accurately reflect market value, please call 698-6640 to schedule an appointment. If you find inaccuracies in ownership, property transfers or residency exemptions, please contact us to address those issues in the Assessing office.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Principal Residence Exemption Audits are currently being conducted in Gaines Township. The State of Michigan has contracted TMA Associates to verify the validity of exemptions that have been claimed. If you no longer qualify for the exemption (you must own and occupy your home as your principal residence to qualify), please contact our office to rescind the exemption.

Assessment data is available at gainestownship.org, under “Tax & Property Info”. You are encouraged to review your property characteristics to confirm our data is accurate.

Nomotorized Transportation Plan

Today, the Parks and Recreation Committee kicked off its efforts to prepare a Nonmotorized Transportation Plan by appointing a 3-person subcommittee. The subcommittee will work with staff throughout 2010 on this project, which will include a public participation process. Please see this schedule and pay attention to local media outlets and the Township website throughout 2010 for chances to provide input on this project.

2010 Census

In March of 2010, census forms will be delivered to every residence in the United States and Puerto Rico. When you receive yours, just answer the 10 short questions and then mail the form back in the postage-paid envelope provided. If you don't mail the form back, you may receive a visit from a census taker, who will ask you the questions from the form.

It is very important that you mail these back as the numbers directly affect the quality of life in our state and in our Township. These figures not only determine monetary distributions from various revenues but also distribution of Representatives and Senators on a state and local level.

So, please take just a minute to fill out the form and send it in. For more information regarding the 2010 Census, please visit the Census 2010 website.

The Pyramid

Recently, the Steelcase Corporate Development Center was put on the real estate market. Please read the press release and flyer for more information about this iconic West Michigan building, located in Gaines Charter Township

Notice of Public Hearing - Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE, that the Gaines Charter Township Planning Commission will hold a Public Hearing regarding proposed text amendments to the zoning ordinance. The nature of the Public Hearing will be to discuss the addition of “Section 20.14 – Temporary Storage Units”, the revision of “Section 21.2(A)(2) – Nonconforming Lots”, the revision of “Chapter 25 – Site Plan Review”, the addition of a definition for “Carport” under “Section 28.2(C), and the addition of a definition for “Temporary Storage Unit” under Section 28.2(T).

The Public Hearing regarding this text amendment will be held at 7:05 p.m. on Thursday, January 28, 2010 at the Gaines Charter Township Offices, 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue S.E. Signed written comments pertaining to this proposed zoning ordinance text amendments may be sent prior to January 28, 2009, to the Gaines Charter Township Planning Commission, 8555 Kalamazoo Avenue S.E., Caledonia, MI 49316.

The tentative proposed text may be examined at the Gaines Charter Township Planning & Zoning Department and will also be available on the Township website at www.gainestownship.org. For additional information please contact the Planning & Zoning Department at 616-698-6640.

Zoning Board of Appeals - 1/13/10 Meeting - Cancelled

Due to a lack of agenda items, the January 13, 2010 Zoning Board of Appeals meeting has been canceled. The next regularly scheduled meeting is February 10, 2010.