Assessor reports 4.47% rise in taxable value; county records PA 116 enrollment and heavy rollback calculations

The Eaton County director of equalization reported to the Ways and Means Committee on May 16 that taxable value across the county rose 4.47 percent overall for the current assessment year and that three parcels totaling about 269 acres in Calamillo Township were enrolled in PA 116 agricultural agreements for 20 years.

The director noted some local jurisdictions experienced larger increases, with one cited city up 10.9 percent and others showing solid gains; Lansing’s taxable value fell slightly due to personal‑property exemptions. The director also discussed the heavy rollback (Headley rollback) calculation that directly affects tax rates; after the recalculation the county tax rate was estimated at 5.2023.

The director said adjustments were complicated by items that must be subtracted from valuation for purposes of the rollback calculation, such as Renaissance zones and exemptions for disabled veterans, and that disabled‑veteran exemptions change throughout the year. He estimated the county loses roughly $1 million in annual revenue to rollbacks and said cumulative loss since 1994 could be in the tens of millions.

Committee members asked about tax‑tribunal appeals from major commercial taxpayers; staff identified two ongoing appeals of note and said overall appeals were fewer than in some prior years. The committee took the reports as informational and did not take formal action on the valuation items beyond moving standard reports to the full board.