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Canton Township assessor reports full compliance on state audit; warns of 2026 reassessment manual changes
Summary
Assessor Aaron Powers told trustees the township satisfied most State Tax Commission audit requirements after correcting poverty-exemption language; he outlined valuation growth trends and warned the 2026 updated assessor cost manual will trigger a fresh sales analysis and potential pricing changes.
Aaron Powers, Canton Township assessor with WCA Assessing, told the board on June 24 that the township satisfied the state’s five-year countywide assessing audit under Public Act 660 (2018) after the board corrected a disciplinary language issue in its poverty-exemption policy.
Audit outcome and corrective action: Powers said the State Tax Commission’s audit examines land-value documentation, economic condition factors, CAMA adoption, training, accessibility and other technical compliance items. Canton met the substantial-compliance review thresholds except for one technical finding: the township’s poverty-exemption policy included language that categorically disallowed applicants who owned any second property, rather than allowing low-value parcels that fell below an asset threshold tied to tax liability. The board corrected that policy at a prior meeting (the assessor cited a May 13, 2025 correction), and Powers said the change brought the township into full compliance.
Valuation trends: Powers said Canton represents roughly 9–10% of Wayne County’s overall taxable value and that Canton’s total equalized value has recovered and outpaced county averages since the downturn that began after 2007. He described a roughly 159.48% increase in overall value for Canton since the 2007 low point versus about a 130.62% county average increase, attributing the divergence to development and rising property values.
Assessment process and 2026 manual changes: Powers reviewed assessment procedures and reminded residents the assessment “as of” date in Michigan is Dec. 31 and that assessment-change notices typically mail in late February. He warned that the State Tax Commission is releasing an updated cost manual for 2026 that resets many base costs used in mass appraisal; the manual reflects newer construction trends (Powers cited examples such as whole-house generators becoming common) and will require a complete new sales analysis in the township when implemented. The assessor said staff will review the manual when it arrives and will inform the board and public of any consequential changes.
Resident guidance and workload: Trustees thanked assessors for outreach and training; the assessor noted parcel counts exceed roughly 36–37,000 parcels (including personal property accounts) and that personal property exemption rules enacted since 2012 have reduced taxable personal property accounts but the township still manages more than 3,000 personal-property accounts for review. The assessor reiterated that uncapping when a property transfers can increase taxable value for a buyer and that residents with questions should contact the assessor’s office on receipt of assessment-change notices.
No board vote was required on the presentation; the assessor concluded by inviting questions and stating staff will circulate details when the State Tax Commission releases the new manual.
