Michigan Public Policy Survey Questions and Data Tables

Thinking about the last two years, have landowners for other classes of real property in your jurisdiction appealed their tax assessments — either to your jurisdiction’s Board of Review or directly to the Michigan Tax Tribunal? (Among cities and townships)

Did any of these landowners appeal a Board of Review determination to the Michigan Tax Tribunal? (Among cities and townships that report having landowners for any class of real property appeal their tax assessments in the last two years)

Thinking about any appeals of a Board of Review determination to the Michigan Tax Tribunal in the last two years, did your jurisdiction respond to any appeal by stipulating/agreeing to the value(s) the landowner stated in their Michigan Tax Tribunal petition? (Among cities and townships that reported having landowners appeal to the Michigan Tax Tribunal)

Thinking about any appeals of a Board of Review determination to the Michigan Tax Tribunal in the last two years, did your jurisdiction respond to any appeal by stipulating/agreeing to an alternate taxable value with the landowner prior to the Tax Tribunal hearing? (Among cities and townships that reported having landowners appeal to the Michigan Tax Tribunal)

Thinking about any appeals of a Board of Review determination to the Michigan Tax Tribunal in the last two years, did your jurisdiction respond to any appeal by defending the assessment before the Tax Tribunal? (Among jurisdictions that reported having landowners appeal to the Michigan Tax Tribunal)

To what extent — if at all — did the cost of legal representation for the appeal impact your decision to stipulate rather than defend the original assessment before the Tax Tribunal? (Among cities and townships that stipulated/agreed to a value with the landowner)

Thinking about property tax appeals that have gone to the Michigan Tax Tribunal from your jurisdiction in the last two years, would you say you are generally satisfied or dissatisfied with the Tax Tribunal’s determination(s)? (Among cities and townships that defended an assessment before the Tax Tribunal)

Overall, how much of a problem — if at all — are property tax appeals for your jurisdiction’s current fiscal health?

In some jurisdictions, retail chains (including “big box” stores) have appealed their property tax assessments claiming their buildings are hard to sell for another use, making the market value significantly lower than construction costs. Recently, the Michigan Tax Tribunal has generally ruled that tax assessments for these properties should be based upon the selling price of comparable vacant “dark stores.” To what extent do you agree or disagree that tax assessments of retail chain stores should be based on comparable vacant “dark stores?”

Some jurisdictions have enacted local ordinances to address “dark stores” appeals (for example, requiring new commercial buildings to be constructed for more general reuse or addressing these issues in terms of deed restrictions). Which of the following best describes the actions — if any — your jurisdiction has taken to minimize the impact of “dark stores” tax appeals?

Now, thinking about the overall fiscal stress in your jurisdiction today and what you expect it to be down the road — including any future financial obligations it may have — on a scale from 1 to 10, where 1 is the best: perfect fiscal health and 10 is the worst: fiscal crisis, how would you rate your jurisdiction’s overall fiscal stress today?

Thinking about the overall fiscal stress of your jurisdiction today and what you expect it to be down the road - including any future financial obligations it may have - on a scale from 1 to 10, where 1 is the best: perfect fiscal health and 10 is the worst: fiscal crisis, how would you rate your jurisdiction's overall fiscal stress today?

Thinking about the primary service delivery arrangement in your jurisdiction for fire services, do you think your jurisdiction pays too much, about the right amount, or not enough of the total costs of services provided, or does your jurisdiction not share service delivery for fire services?

Thinking about the primary service delivery arrangement in your jurisdiction for law enforcement, do you think your jurisdiction pays too much, about the right amount, or not enough of the total costs of services provided, or does your jurisdiction not share service delivery for law enforcement?

Thinking about the primary service delivery arrangement in your jurisdiction for ambulance/EMS, do you think your jurisdiction pays too much, about the right amount, or not enough of the total costs of services provided, or does your jurisdiction not share service delivery for ambulance/EMS?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that your jurisdiction has enough funding to meet its current fire protection needs?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that your jurisdiction has enough funding to meet its current law enforcement needs?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that your jurisdiction has enough funding to meet its current ambulance/EMS needs?

Now, do you think your jurisdiction appropriates too much, about the right amount, or too little funding to meet its fire protection needs? (Among jurisdictions that reported having enough funding to meet their current fire protection needs)

Now, do you think your jurisdiction appropriates too much, about the right amount, or too little funding to meet its law enforcement needs? (Among jurisdictions that reported having enough funding to meet their current law enforcement needs)

Now, do you think your jurisdiction appropriates too much, about the right amount, or too little funding to meet its ambulance/EMS needs? (Among jurisdictions that reported having enough funding to meet their current ambulance/EMS needs)

In recent years, has your jurisdiction tried to raise local funding for fire services through either new or renewed public safety millage(s) or special assessment(s)?

In recent years, has your jurisdiction tried to raise local funding for law enforcement through either new or renewed public safety millage(s) or special assessment(s)?

In recent years, has your jurisdiction tried to raise local funding for ambulance / EMS through either new or renewed public safety millage(s) or special assessment(s)?

Would you, in your role as a local official, support or oppose your jurisdiction pursuing additional local funding for fire services through either a new millage or special assessment?