do
If d nied theyh e untilJune
to it to the ichig n T
I I"
eview
At the hearing, the burden of
proof fallon property owners.
They will be expe ted to docu­
ment why they think the as e -
ment i unjust.
"They c n't ju t walk into
. m II claim and y. 'My taxes
rc t 0 high," Gri maid .:
Typicall owner.. h w their
ment arc out of line it h
a e. meats and ale price of
imilar hou e in their neighb r­
h d. They can al 0 offer tate­
ment from contractors that an
improvement in progress has
not reached the level of comple­
tion the or had judged. Or,
if the property was recently pur­
chased, they can pre ent a bill of
Ie.
If the appeal is heard by a
tri unal memb r, th de i ion is
final. I nd ivid ual appeali ng
before hearing officers can re­
quest, within 20 days of the hear­
ing, a hearing before a tribunal
member.
From there, di gruntled tax­
payer must go to the tate
Court of Appeals.
Gri som tells people they
should pay the assessed tax, even
if they are involved in an appeal.
"They have to pay the taxes in
order to get a final decision," she
aid. If the asse sment is ruled
exces ive, the Tax Tribunal or­
ders the taxing unit to refund any
overpayment, plus 9 percent in­
terest.
Last year, Michigan property
owners flied 5,513 tax assess­
ment appeals with the small
claims division.