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Ferrysburg council approves 25% increase to poverty income guidelines for 2026 assessments
Summary
Council approved a staff-backed 25% increase to poverty-exemption income guidelines for 2026 assessments to expand eligibility; staff said zero exemptions were filed in the prior two years and projected a 6.9% city poverty rate. Council discussed comparability, likely low homeowner eligibility, and Board of Review discretion before passing the change.
The Ferrysburg City Council voted Feb. 16 to approve an increase of 25% to the city’s poverty-exemption income guidelines for 2026 assessments, a change staff said is intended to better align eligibility with local housing costs.
Craig, city staff, told council the proposal would raise federal-guideline-based income thresholds by 25% for each household-size band, noting that no poverty-exemption applications were filed with the city in the prior two years. Staff also projected a citywide poverty rate of about 6.9% but cautioned that the city cannot identify income at the parcel level without individual applications.
Council members questioned the choice of 25% and whether the increase would meaningfully help homeowners, since people below the poverty line are often renters. Several members said the change was a modest step and that the Board of Review retains discretion to grant exemptions at 100%, 75%, 50% or 25% if applications are received. Council directed staff to track exemption application counts so the impact can be reassessed next year. After discussion the council moved, seconded and approved the guideline increase on a roll call vote.
The change takes effect for the 2026 assessment cycle; staff said they will report back with application counts after the Board of Review.
