Special Notices

Granholm Enacts New Property Tax Bill

From The Office of the Assessor:
On April 8, 2008, Governor Granholm signed House Bill 4215, enacting Public Act 96 of 2008, which amended Section 211.7cc of the General Property Tax Act, Public Act of 1893. The amendment enables a person who has established a new principle residence to retain a Principle Residence Exemption (PRE) on property previously exempt as the owner's principle residence that is not occupied and for sale by submitting a Conditional Rescission of Principal Residence Exemption Form #4640. The condition rescission allows an owner to receive a PRE on his or her new property and on previously exempted property simultaneously if certain criteria are met. An owner may receive the PRE on the previous principal residence for up to three years if that property is not occupied, for sale or lease, nor being used for any business or commercial purpose.

The opportunity to apply and qualify for a condition rescission begins for the 2008 tax year and is not retroactive to previous tax years. To qualify for unconditional rescission in 2008, Form #4640 must be submitted to the assessor of the local government unit on or before May 1, 2008. The Board of Review has no authority with regard to condition rescission and cannot institute a conditional rescission on behalf of an owner for previous tax years, or if a deadline is missed. An owner must annually submit Form #4640 on or before December 31 to verify to the assessor that the property for which the PRE is retained is not occupied, for sale or lease, nor being used for any business or commercial purpose.

Form #4640 can be downloaded from the Fort Gratiot Township website under Assessing Forms, as well as from the State of Michigan website.  For more information regarding Conditional Rescissions and Personal Residence Exemptions, visit:
http://www.michigan.gov/taxes/0,1607,7-238-43535_43539---,00.html.

Tax Resolution and Declaration Passed Unanimously

A Resolution and Declaration in Opposition to Increase in Taxation by the State of Michigan was passed unanimously at the February 6th 2008 meeting of the Charter Township of Fort Gratiot Board of Trustees.  The Resolution was forwarded to all surrounding municipalities, as well as State and local legislators. A link to the Resolution and Declaration is available for review by clicking the link below:

 TAX RESOLUTION.PDF

What Do Those Colored Flags Mean?
Deciphering Michigan's Utility Color Codes...
With warmer weather approaching, you will once again begin noticing those colored flags sticking out of the ground, each one signifying a different utility.  Below is a listing of Michigan's Utility Color Code: Print
Red Red Utility Flag - Electric Electric
Orange Orange Utility Flag - Telephone, Cable TV, Fire, Police Telephone; Cable TV; Fire and Police Communications
Yellow Yellow Utility Flag - Gas and Oil Gas and Oil
Green Green Utility Flag - Storm Drains Storm Drains
Blue Blue Utility Flag - Water Systems Water Systems
Brown Brown Utility Flag - Sewer Systems Sewer Systems
Pink Pink Utility Flag - Surveying Surveying

A reminder to parents!
The colorful flags used to mark underground utility lines can be very attractive to young children. Remind your children not to remove the utility flag markings. If your child happens to pull out the utility flags, do not attempt to place the flags back in the ground. Never assume you remember where the flags were located.  If the flags are accidentally removed, call the MISS DIG System at 800-482-7171 and indicate you need the utility lines in your yard marked again.

Election Information

The Clerk’s Office is responsible for administering elections in Fort Gratiot Township. To be eligible to vote, citizens must be registered at least 30 days before an election. A qualified elector must be 18 years of age, a citizen of the United States and have resided in Fort Gratiot Township for at least 30 days.
 

Picture ID Requirements

Effective with the November 6, 2007 election, picture ID is required to be shown at the polling places prior to being able to vote. Acceptable forms of ID are: Michigan driver’s license or Michigan personal identification card, driver’s license or personal identification card issued by another state, federal or state government-issued photo identification, U. S. passport, current student identification with photo from a high school or an accredited institution of higher education, military identification card with photo or tribal identification card with photo. The photo identification does not have to show the voter’s residential address. If you have any questions about this requirement, please call the Clerk’s Office at 810-385-4489.

Draft Environmental Impact Statement Released

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Blue Water Bridge Plaza Study.  Review copies are available at the Township Hall, St. Clair County Library, and the City of Port Huron.  Copy fees may apply at each location if you wish to take one home.  Copies of this study may also be viewed online at: www.michigan.gov/bluewaterbridgeprojectt.