LENAWEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMISSIONERS RECEIVE PETITION FROM TAX ALLOCATION BOARD

Adrian, MI – June 14, 2017 – The Lenawee County Board of Commissioners today announced it is positioned to receive a petition from the recently appointed tax allocation board at its June 14, 2017 meeting. The petition is a recommendation of the tax allocation board for the commissioners to renew the 1968 tax limitation for a period of four years, or until altered by the voters of the county.

The county’s current budget shortfalls threaten future funding to county services and programs residents have come to expect. County Administrator Martin Marshall noted the decline in property values during the Great Recession has greatly affected the county’s budget. Although the economy has improved, the cost of running the government has increased faster than rebounding property tax revenues, even with budget cuts made by the county.

“In my opinion, renewing the 1968 property tax limitation would place the county in the position to continue to meet the needs of our citizens,” said Marshall. “If we wait for Washington or Lansing to fix what we’re facing, we will certainly not have the funding we require for the services our residents expect. It is up to us, the citizens, to invest in Lenawee County.”

The Lenawee County Board of Commissioners voted in March to reconvene the tax allocation board to evaluate current property tax limits and how best to increase revenue to continue funding county services. The tax allocation board convened for its final meeting on Monday, May 15, 2017, and voted 6-0 to petition the board of commissioners to place the renewal on the ballot. The petition calls for the board of commissioners to “place before the voters of this county the question of renewing separate tax limitation millage rates.” The 1968 limit shall not exceed the aggregate of 7.05 mills and are divided as follows: County of Lenawee – 5.75 mills, townships within the county – 1.0 mills, and the Lenawee Intermediate School District – 0.30 mills.

The board of commissioners will act on the petition at the June 14 meeting. # # #