9/5/13 - Preparations are underway in Hartland Township for an upcoming tax tribunal to settle a dispute between the township board and a local retailer. When a property owner feels their taxation is too high, they can appeal the amount to the Michigan Tax Tribunal, which will examine the evidence and set a new property valuation appropriately. Hartland Manager James Wickman says the township has a good track record of settling property tax disputes, but has not been able to reach an agreement with the Kroger store in the Shops at Waldenwoods complex. In preparation for a tax tribunal, the township board on Tuesday approved spending up to $7,500 on a new appraisal of the property to present as evidence to the state. Wickman says the townshipâs research indicates it could justify assessing the property for up to $88 per square foot, and that it is assessed for slightly less than that. However, he says Kroger is contending that the assessment should be closer to $35 per square foot. Wickman says the information Kroger has presented to the township seems to be based on vacant, dilapidated buildings elsewhere in the region. With 78,000 square feet being contested, the difference between the two assessments would cost the township about $4 million in revenue. Wickman says the appraisal will be completed by the end of the month, but there is no knowing when the tribunal will be scheduled. (TD)
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