2002 Senate Bill 1165 / Public Act 244

Introduced in the Senate

Feb. 28, 2002

Introduced by Sen. John J. H. Schwarz (R-24)

To permanently change to July for all taxpayers the payment date for the six-mill state school property tax. Approximately half of all property owners now pay half the tax in July and half in December; the other property owners either pay the entire bill in December only or in July only. To compensate for the accelerated expense incurred by approximately 75 percent of taxpayers, in 2003-only the tax rate would be reduced to five-mills. The House Fiscal Agency reports that the owner of house with a $75,000 taxable value will have a one-year savings of $75 in 2003 only. However, in all successive years those who now pay all or part of the tax in December will incur an ongoing opportunity cost for the time-value of money paid earlier each year. The change in date is part of a package of measures intended to close a deficit in the FY 2002-2003 school aid budget (see Senate Bill 1107). It is projected to accelerate $490 million in tax collections forward to FY 2002-2003, including the one-year, one-mill discount. This bill amends the state education tax act to accommodate the date change. See also Senate Bill 1165.

Referred to the Committee on Finance

March 14, 2002

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with a version with one that reimburses local governments which do not now collect summer taxes $2 per parcel for the extra expense of having to collect summer taxes.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Passed in the Senate 35 to 0 (details)

To permanently change to July for all taxpayers the payment date for the six-mill state school property tax. Approximately half of all property owners now pay half the tax in July and half in December; the other property owners either pay the entire bill in December only or in July only. To compensate for the accelerated expense which will be incurred by approximately 75 percent of taxpayers, in 2003-only the tax rate would be reduced to five-mills. The House Fiscal Agency reports that the owner of house with a $75,000 taxable value will have a one-year savings of $75. However, those who now pay all or part of the tax in December will incur an ongoing opportunity cost for the time-value of money paid earlier each year. Local governments which do not now collect summer taxes will receive $2 per parcel from the state for the extra expense of having to collect summer taxes, or may allow the state to collect the tax. The change in date is part of a package of measures intended to close a deficit in the FY 2002-2003 school aid budget (see Senate Bill 1107). It is projected to accelerate $490 million in tax collections forward to FY 2002-2003, including the one-year, one-mill discount. This bill amends the state education tax act to accommodate the date change.

Received in the House

March 14, 2002

March 21, 2002

Amendment offered by Rep. Tom Meyer (R-84)

To increase the reimbursement to local governments which do not now collect summer taxes from $2 to $2.50 per parcel, to compensate for the extra expense of having to collect summer taxes.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Nancy Cassis (R-38)

To require that counties which have chosen to collect the state school tax appropriate sufficient funds to do so.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Randy Richardville (R-56)

To allow local governments that have chosen to let the state collect the school property tax change their mind later, and collect it themselves.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Steve Vear (R-58)

To increase the reimbursement to local counties to an amount suffficient to cover the actual cost of collecting the state school taxes.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Steve Vear (R-58)

To increase the reimbursement to local governments which do not now collect summer taxes from $2 to $3 per parcel, to compensate for the extra expense of having to collect summer taxes.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Steve Vear (R-58)

To exempt agricultural land from the earlier tax collection date.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Bruce Patterson (R-21)

To reduce by 50-percent the one-time, one-mill tax cut included in the plan to compensate for the accelerated expense which will be incurred by approximately 75 percent of taxpayers. The school tax would be 5.5 mills, not 5 mills in 2003.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Alexander Lipsey (D-60)

To make provision for the collection by a city of delinquent property taxes.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Passed in the House 92 to 11 (details)

To permanently change to July for all taxpayers the payment date for the six-mill state school property tax. Approximately half of all property owners now pay half the tax in July and half in December; the other property owners either pay the entire bill in December only or in July only. To compensate for the accelerated expense which will be incurred by approximately 75 percent of taxpayers, in 2003-only the tax rate would be reduced to five-mills. The House Fiscal Agency reports that the owner of house with a $75,000 taxable value will have a one-year savings of $75. However, those who now pay all or part of the tax in December will incur an ongoing opportunity cost for the time-value of money paid earlier each year. Local governments which do not now collect summer taxes will receive $2.50 per parcel from the state for the extra expense of having to collect summer taxes, or may allow the state to collect the tax. The change in date is part of a package of measures intended to close a deficit in the FY 2002-2003 school aid budget (see Senate Bill 1107). It is projected to accelerate $490 million in tax collections forward to FY 2002-2003, including the one-year, one-mill discount. This bill amends the state education tax act to accommodate the date change.

Received in the Senate

March 21, 2002

April 11, 2002

Passed in the Senate 36 to 1 (details)

To concur with the House-passed version of the bill.

Received in the House

April 11, 2002

Signed by Gov. John Engler

April 30, 2002