The Assessor’s Office
About The Assessor’s Office
The Assessing Department has the responsibility of preparing the assessment and tax rolls for the City for all property that is not exempt. The State of Michigan Constitution requires that property be assessed at 50% of true cash value. Proposal A was a constitutional amendment passed in 1994 that placed additional limits on the values used to calculate property taxes. Beginning in 1995, property taxes were calculated by levying the millage on the taxable value, rather than the state equalized value. The taxable value is the lesser of the capped value and the state equalized value. The capped value is calculated by taking the previous year’s taxable value, subtracting any losses from demolition, then multiplying by the inflation rate of 5%, whichever is less, then adding any value for new construction.
CONTACT THE ASSESSOR
10600 West Jefferson Ave.
River Rouge, Michigan 48218
Office is open Tuesday & Wednesday
9:00 am to 12:00 pm.
Phone: (313) 842-7822
Monday, Thursday, Friday
Please go to the Treasurer’s Office or call the number below
Notice of assessment changes are mailed annually at the end of February. This is a notice of assessed value, taxable value and homestead status. Property owners can appeal their assessed value, capped value and homestead status to the March Board of Review.
Property Assessing Office
Business Personal Property
All businesses are required under MCL 211.21 to file a Personal Property Statement (Form L-4175) with the city in which the business has personal property by February 20th of each year. The Michigan Constitution provides for the assessment of all real and tangible personal property not exempted by law. Business Personal Property generally consists of furniture and fixtures, machinery and equipment, computers, etc. All tangible personal property in your possessions as of December 31 of the preceding year, including fully appreciated and expensed assets, must be reported. Contact the Assessor’s Office at (313) 842-5602 should you have any questions about assessable personal property.
Assessing Clerk (313) 842-5602
Board of Reviews Appeals
March Board of Review: Meets the Tuesday after the 1st Monday each year. .This Board of Review hears appeals on the Assessed and/or Taxable value of property, and also Poverty Exemptions that qualify under the City of River Rouge guidelines.
July Board of Review: Meets the Tuesday after the 3rd Monday each year. NO APPEALS FOR ASSESSED VALUES WILL BE HEARD. Poverty Exemption appeals, mutual mistakes of fact and clerical errors will be corrected during this Board of Review.
December Board of Review: Meets the Tuesday after the 2nd Monday each year. NO APPEALS FOR ASSESSED VALUES WILL BE HEARD. Poverty Exemption appeals, mutual mistakes of fact and clerical errors will be corrected during this Board of Review.
Principal Residence Exemption
Formerly known as the homestead exemption, Principal Residence Status will give the property owner the exemption from school operating tax up to 18 mills. To obtain Principal Residence status, the property owner must be a residential property that is owner occupied by June 1 of the year claiming exemption. Michigan allows one Principal Residence exemption on the primary residence. Principal Residence exemption forms can be obtained in the Assessor’s Office.
Transfers of OwnershipThe City of River Rouge is collecting the penalty for failure to file the Property Transfer Affidavit within 45 days from the date of transfer of ownership.
Properties that sold or had a transfer of ownership in the year 2015 will be uncapped for the 2016 tax year. This means that the taxable value will be resent to the assessed value regardless of the capped value calculation. This may result in a large increase in property taxes for a new homeowner. If you need assistance determining the amount of property tax for a property that transferred ownership in 2015 please contact the Assessor’s Office.
Poverty Exemption
To receive consideration for Poverty Exemption, the petitioner must do the following: 1. Own and occupy property as a principal residence. 2. File poverty petition application. 3. Provide State and Federal Income Tax forms. 4. Copy of income (social security statement, pay stub, etc.) 5. Copy of ID. 6. Copy of Michigan Homestead Credit (MI 1040-CR). 7. FAILURE TO COMPLETE ALL AREAS AND PROVIDE CORRECT INFORMATION MAY RESULT IN A DENIAL OF THE POVERTY EXEMPTION.
Guidelines for Board of Review to Grant Poverty Exemption
Number of Persons Residing in Home
One (1) Person
Two (2) People
Three (3) People
Four (4) People
Five (5) People
Six (6) People
Seven (7) People
Eight (8) People
Each additional person
Poverty
$13,100
$16,600
$20,900
$24,600
$28,780
$32,960
$37,200
$41,400
$4,190
