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Assessor's Office
BEST WISHES FOR A
WONDERFUL NEW YEAR!
John Hodgson, Board Member; Joanne Cranford, Board Member; Joanie Barnett, Assessor; Jeff Wagar, Board Member
Department Hours
The normal business hours for the Assessor's office are Monday through Friday between 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. The Assessor's Office may be closed due to meetings, staffing levels, or necessary field work. Please call ahead to confirm availability (734)675-6810.
Responsibilities of the Assessor
The Assessor's goal is to provide fair and equitable assessments to the taxpayers. Michigan Certified Assessing Officers are required to annually prepare and certify the assessment roll for the City in accordance with the General Property Tax Act and are responsible for the administration of the General Property Tax Laws.
Michigan Compiled Law (MCL) 211.10d(9) Supervising Preparation of the Assessment Roll
The Assessor and staff must complete several tasks that provide our residents with an accurate and defined assessment of their properties. The following is an overview of the responsibilities of the Assessor’s Office and are not limited to the following:
- Locate, identify, record, and establish the true cash value, assessed and taxable values of all real property subject to taxation.
- Certified by the State of Michigan as a Personal Property Examiner to establish the taxable values on all taxable personal property.
- Maintain descriptions of the property.
- Use appropriate appraisal techniques (cost approach, market approach, and also the income approach).
- Assessment Roll must be prepared on or before the first Monday in March to be presented to the Board of Review by the Tuesday following the first Monday in March (MCL 211.30).
- Notification of assessment increases must be prepared and sent to taxpayers 10 days prior to the first Board of Review meeting (MCL 211.30).
- Assessments often must be defended before the Michigan Tax Tribunal.
- Affidavits for Principal Residence Exemption (which exempt certain properties from paying the 18 mills of school operating taxes) (exemptions granted or denied by the assessor by determining eligibility for claims) and Property Transfers must be processed.
- Required to preserve and keep all books, assessment rolls, and other papers belonging to the office and comply with State Statutes and the Michigan Township Record Retention Schedule Number 10.
- Must maintain records relevant to the assessments, including appraisal record cards, personal property records, historical assessment data, Tax Maps, and Land Value Maps consistent with the standards found in the Assessor’s Manual approved by the State Tax Commission. (MCL 41.62)
- File numerous mandated forms and reports with the County Equalization Department, the State Tax Commission, and the Michigan Department of Treasury.
- Respond to all information requests from the public.
- Present annual department budget requirements and other reports to City Council.
Michigan Compiled Law (MCL) 211.27a(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the property shall be assessed at 50% of its true cash value under section 3 of article IX of the state constitution of 1963.
Field Sheet / Record Cards / Property Sales
Record card/field sheets with building and improvement sketches for Residential, Commercial, and Industrial parcels and Property Sales are available in the Assessor’s Office to view during normal business hours. Click the BS&A link to view online www.BS&A ONLINE Property information.
Home Improvements & Your Property Taxes
Michigan's Mathieu-Gast Home Improvement Act guarantees that the cost of normal repairs and maintenance on your home cannot be considered by an assessor in determining the true cash value of the property until the property is sold. This means your property taxes don't rise with every home improvement. The following home repairs and improvements cannot be considered for assessment purposes while you own your home.
NOTE: Structural additions are not considered to be normal repairs or maintenance
For More Detailed Information on the Mathieu-Gast Act, see Bulletin No. 7 of 2020 from the Michigan State Tax Commission
Evolution Map of Wayne County
The Evolution Map of Wayne County (PDF) beginning in 1827 was compiled by registered land surveyor Henry T. Kempa.
2023 Land Study Reports
2023 ECF Study Reports
...and last but not least, if you have any suggestions or needs from the Assessor that are not addressed on this page, please reach out to Joanie Barnett (734)675-6810 or by email by clicking here.