Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Poverty Exemptions topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Harper Woods updates poverty-exemption policy to include additional property in asset test following state guidance
Summary
The council approved a change to the city's poverty guidelines to state explicitly that the value of any additional real property owned by an applicant will be included in the asset test, aligning with a directive from the State Tax Commission and avoiding an audit finding.
The Harper Woods City Council adopted an update to the city's poverty-exemption guidelines to incorporate a State Tax Commission change: applicants may have ownership interest in additional real estate, but the value of that property must be included in the asset test.
City Assessor Holly told council members the change is required by the state and that failing to amend local policy would result in an adverse audit finding; Wayne County communities are under a five-year audit cycle and the assessor meets the commission May 27. Holly said the change will probably not affect recent applicants in Harper Woods because, to date, few applicants reported ownership of additional property. She provided recent application statistics: eight applicants in March with six granted, and 16 applicants the prior year with 10 granted.
Council adopted the update by resolution. The assessor's office said the asset test calculates allowable liquid assets relative to projected property taxes and household income and that owning additional property will be converted into a value for that calculation.
