(this page is NOT final and is a work-in-progress)
The Clayton Township Assessor’s Office is responsible for the inventorying and valuation of taxable parcels of all real property (land and buildings), and personal property (tangibles) held by businesses within the Township. The statutes the office operates under are The General Property Tax Act (P.A. 206 of 1893), and The Michigan Compiled Laws 211.1 through 211.157.
The Assessor for Clayton Township is Karen Hopkins. Click here to send her an email or call 810-635-4433 or (800) 668-0645
The Process (short version)
Early each year, usually in February, you’ll receive a notice from Clayton Township as to the new “assessed value” of your home. This figure can be greater or less than the previous year and is driven by market conditions. Click here for an explanation of how values are determined.
Step 1 – Does your new “assessed value” reflect a fair market value for your home? If not, contact Assessor Karen Hopkins to see if there is an error or if the value can be adjusted to a level that is agreeable to both you and Clayton Township.
Step 2 – If you feel any change in value still does not reflect a fair market value you must protest to the Clayton Township Board of Review during a few days in March. You can either appearing before the Clayton Township Board of Review or make other arrangements with the Clayton Township assessor to appeal by filing your protest in writing or by appointment. You can make an appointment by calling 810.635.4433 If you miss this appeal period, you cannot act for another year. In 2010, the Board of Review met on March 8, 9 and 17. Click here to download the petition form.
You will receive a notice, by mail, from Clayton Township with the determination of the Board of Review. There is no fee to protest your new assessed value.
Step 3 – If you do not feel that the decision of the Clayton Township Board of Review resulted in a true reflection of actual market value of your home, your next step is to appeal to the State of Michigan Tax Tribunal. There is no fee to protest your new assessed value at the state level. More about the process at the state level can be found here. Most appeals take a year or more to be heard. Having a fair appraisal that meets the requirements of the State of Michigan Tax Tribunal is the best way to communicate the true, fair value of your home.
Click here to download the form for the State of Michigan Tax Tribunal
Be sure to send TWO copies of all required documents to the State of Michigan Tax Tribunal. Those documents must include:
- • State of Michigan PROPERTY TAX APPEAL PETITION FORM (two page document)
• Clayton Township Notice of Assessment (one page document)
• PETITION TO BOARD OF REVIEW (L-4035) (one page document)
• Response from Clayton Township Board of Review (one or two page document)
• Appraisal of your property – if you have one (multiple pages)
• Any other supporting information
NOTE: You should make a third copy of these documents to bring to your State hearing. They will likely request that you bring these documents, even though you’ve already submitted them.
Where can I find my current assessment?
Short answer is the Genesee County website. The Genesee County Equalization Department Director is appointed by the Board of Commissioners on an indefinite basis, and is responsible to the Board of Commissioners for administration of the property tax statutes within the County. Duties include preparation of an Equalization Report which is intended to assure that assessments are maintained at comparable levels throughout the County; preparation of a Millage Reduction Report which reflects the millage reduction fractions for all tax levying jurisdictions with the County and maintenance of all property description records within the County, with the exception of those in the City of Flint.
To find the current assessed value, click here or here.
Updated Spring 2011
How can I prove that my property’s assessed and taxable values are too high?
In a property tax matter appeal, the petitioner has the burden of establishing the property’s true cash value as of the relevant tax date (December 31, 2003, for the 2004 tax year). True cash value or fair market value means the price a willing buyer will pay and a willing seller will accept in an independent sale. One method of proving a property’s fair market value is to provide information of actual sales of comparable properties in your neighborhood with each sale price adjusted to reflect the differences between your property and the comparable properties. If your home was recently built, it is sometimes helpful to show the actual cost to purchase the land and construct buildings on the property. You cannot prove the fair market value of your property by comparing your assessment with assessments on other properties, comparing your taxes with those of other properties, or by simply describing conditions affecting your property, such as heavy traffic or flooding.
It might be helpful for you to obtain a copy of your property record card to find out how the assessor determined the value of your parcel.
Finally, testimony alone is frequently not enough to carry the burden of proof. Documents are important to substantiate testimony and provide independent evidence of a party’s claim. NOTE: Please do not send original documents as the Tribunal is required to maintain a complete case file and cannot return documents submitted into evidence.