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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: |
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| Red |
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Electric |
| Orange |
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Telephone; Cable TV; Fire and Police
Communications |
| Yellow |
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Gas and Oil |
| Green |
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Storm Drains |
| Blue |
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Water Systems |
| Brown |
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Sewer Systems |
| Pink |
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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. |
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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.
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