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Assessor's Office

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1. If I disagree with my Property Assessment what can I do?

Appeals are filed with the local Board of Review during the 1st week of March each year. Your annual Notice of Assessment lists the dates, times and procedures for scheduling an appointment with the Board. If you disagree with the decision of the local Board of Review you may appeal their decision with the Michigan Tax Tribunal.

2. When are property taxes due?

Summer taxes (City, State Education Tax (SET) and local School taxes) are mailed by the 1st week of July and are due by August 10.

Winter taxes (Newaygo County, Newaygo County Regional Education Service Agency (NCRESA) and District Library taxes) are mailed by the 1st week of December and are due by February 14.

The City turns all unpaid taxes over to the County Treasurer on March 1 each year.

3. How are my property taxes determined?

Your taxes are calculated by multiplying the tax rate by each thousand of taxable value (TV.) Fore more information, please view the Tax Example page.

4. How are tax rates determined?

The various taxing authorities determine their tax rates. Those authorities for Fremont include the City of Fremont, Fremont Public Schools, Newaygo County, Newaygo County Regional Education Service Agency (NCRESA), Fremont District Library and the State Education Tax (SET).

5. What is taxable value?

Taxable value is the value used to calculate your tax bill. Although your assessed value will increase with the market, your taxable value is capped - meaning it can only increase 5% or consumers price index, whichever is lower. Once a home is sold, the cap is removed and the new taxable value is usually about half of the purchase price or the current State Equalized Value (SEV) on your parcel.

6. What are real and personal property taxes?

Real property is all land, buildings and attachments. Personal property is any property that isn't real property. Personal property taxes are levied only on property that is used in business.

7. What if I can't pay my tax bill by the due date?

There is no formal payment plan for taxes. If you cannot pay the entire bill by the due date, pay as much of the bill as you can by the due date. After the due date a penalty will be added to the unpaid balance. Then you have until the end of February to pay the balance. Beginning March one of each year, unpaid taxes are returned delinquent to Newaygo County and payable only at the Newaygo County Treasurer’s office in White Cloud with additional penalties.

8. What are the penalties for late taxes?

A 4% penalty is applied to your summer tax balance on August 11 th and to your winter tax balance on February 15.

Beginning March 1 of each year, all unpaid taxes (both summer and winter) are returned delinquent to Newaygo County and payable only at Newaygo County with additional penalties.

9. Where do I send tax payments?

Please send tax payments to the Fremont City Treasurer at 101 East Main Street.

10. Does the City accept credit card payments?

Yes.

11. I never received a tax bill, what should I do?

If you pay taxes yourself – not through a mortgage company – and do not receive your summer bill by the end of the 1st week in July or the winter bill by the end of the 1st week in December, contact the Treasurer’s office at 231-924-2101.

12. What is a homestead exemption?

A homestead exemption was created through the adoption of Proposal A in 1994. The owner of real property is exempted from the 18 mills of school operating tax for the percentage of taxable value used as a primary residence.

13. How do I know if I have an exemption?

The exemption is shown as a percentage. The percentage will be displayed on both your assessment notice and tax bill. An exemption of 100% means your property is exempted from 100% of the 18 mills of school operating taxes.

14. How do I apply for a homestead exemption?

You can visit the City Hall at 101 East Main Street or download Form 2368 (PDF).

15. What services are included in my City utility bill?

The bill you receive from the City includes water, sewer, garbage and recycling pickup charges as applicable to your address.

16. How much do my utility services cost?

For more information, please view the Utility Services Cost page.

17. When is my utility bill due?

The City sends bills every 3 months. Each bill covers the previous three months’ usage. Bills are generally mailed out the 15 of January, April, July and October and are due by the 15 of the following month.

For example, a City utility bill mailed April 15 covers January, February and March usage and is due by May 15. If the bill is not paid by the due date, a 10% penalty will be added.

18. Why is my utility bill higher than my neighbors?

Each bill is based on actual water usage, and every family uses water differently. You cannot base your bill on your neighbor’s. If you have questions about your usage, call or stop in at City Hall and we will try to answer your questions.

19. What happens when I sell my property?

The City must be notified when you sell your property. If we know in a timely manner, we can get an actual water reading and at the next billing period you will receive a bill for the actual amount you owe. Plus when we are notified, the bill can be put into the new owner’s name. If we are not notified, the bill continues in your name and there is no way to go back and tell which portion of the bill belongs to you and which portion should go to the new homeowner.

The new owner also needs to contact us to verify the information we have and select their choice of garbage service.

20. I have moved, but my property has not sold. Will I be billed for garbage pickup?

If your home is empty and you have a garbage cart, set it by your curb and notify us to pick it up. You will not be billed for service after that date. You will be billed for the portion of the quarter in which you used it. The recycling charge will continue to be charged to the homeowner.

21. What is a Poverty/Hardship Exemption? How do I qualify? When do I file?

For more information, please view the Poverty / Hardship Exemption page.