Gratiot County officials warn wind- and solar-related tax valuations could flatten revenues; public hearing set for Sept. 16

Gratiot County finance staff on Tuesday told the Board of Commissioners that the county’s reliance on industrial personal property tied to wind and solar projects is making long-term revenue forecasts uncertain and could hold operating revenue roughly flat for fiscal 2025–26.

Marianne Kornicksel, interim controller with the Woodhill Group, and Keegan, the county’s equalization director, briefed the board on a multi-page budget presentation and on how personal property associated with energy projects affects taxable value. Marianne Kornicksel said staff will present a draft of the 2025–26 budget on Sept. 2 and the full proposed document on Sept. 11 ahead of a public hearing scheduled for Sept. 16, 2025.

The presentation showed industrial personal property and utility values linked to wind and solar now make up a significant share of Gratiot County’s tax base. Keegan told the board that industrial personal property accounts for roughly $524 million of $739 million in personal-property value on one sheet of the county’s packet, and that industrial personal and utility values have produced “a significant” share of county taxable value in…