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Equalization director outlines audit status, poverty exemption rules and Muskegon Heights reappraisal progress
Summary
Donna Van Grace, Muskegon County Equalization Director, briefed the committee on the department’s statutory role, the ongoing state audit, poverty exemption asset-test variations, and progress on a Muskegon Heights reappraisal project that staff say is partly complete and aims to finish residential inspections by 2029.
Donna Van Grace, Muskegon County Equalization Director, presented her department’s four-year goals and described current operations, audits and a multi-year reappraisal effort during the Aug. 14 Community Development and Strategic Planning meeting.
Van Grace said the county's equalization office operates within a three-tiered property assessment system — local assessing, county equalization and state review — and that the county is currently undergoing a state audit. "We're the equalization department," she told the committee, explaining the county equalizes local assessments to ensure uniformity and that audits review compliance with statutory standards.
On poverty exemptions and asset tests, Van Grace said federal income guidelines set minimum thresholds but local units determine asset-test limits; she noted examples vary and that some municipalities set asset limits as a percentage of federal guidelines. Commissioners asked whether information about tax implications could be provided earlier in real-estate transactions; Van Grace said legislation or required disclosures would be necessary to guarantee consistent notification before closing.
Van Grace also reported on the Muskegon Heights reappraisal under contract. Per her remarks, "There are 51 60 parcels in Muskegon Heights. 63.7% have been inspected and 48.3% have been worked up." She said residential inspections are largely complete for the areas reached so far and staff aim to finish the residential work by 2029, with commercial reappraisals ongoing.
On technology, Van Grace said tools such as pictometry and GIS supplement field work but do not fully replace on-the-ground inspections; the committee heard that drones and other flyover imagery have legal and licensing considerations and would require further review before operational use.
She offered to brief new commissioners further on assessing practices; the meeting closed with no additional public comment.
