| Genesee County Drain Commissioner |
|---|
| Surface Water Management |
Dear Genesee County Property Owner,
Below is a basic explanation of the Drain Special Assessment process that pays for maintaining the storm drain systems in Genesee County under my jurisdiction.
A properly maintained drainage system is important to county residents and businesses for everything from crop production to keeping streets passable and minimizing flood damage. A routinely maintained system is more cost effective, avoiding the need for large, expensive drain projects often required to rebuild a system that has been neglected for years.
The Drain Special Assessment process begins with the Day of Review of Apportionments in which you as a property owner are invited to review the records of construction efforts and costs for providing your land with storm drainage, and to discuss your proposed share of those costs. This Day of Review also provides the opportunity for you to inform my staff and I of additional maintenance issues, helping us do a better job for you in the future.
If work was done that benefits your property, those costs are assessed on the winter property tax bill as a special assessment and are paid with your property taxes.Drain assessments may be assessed over multiple years to help spread out the cost.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey Wright,
Genesee County Drain Commissioner
2023 Assessment ListOpens a new window (winter taxes due 2024)
Frequently asked questions about the State of MI Treasury-Special Assessment DefermentOpens a new window
Frequently asked questions about the Day of Review of Drainage District Boundaries and Apportionments - FAQOpens a new window
Assessment cost in the Construction Assessment documents are only Tentive Costs to recieve a current payoff amount please contact our office at 810-732-1590.
1. What is A Drain Special Assessment?
A drainage district is the land area that benefits from the drain.
The drainage district makes up the watershed that contributes water to the drain.
Each property and municipality within the drainage district pays for maintenance
and improvement of the drain.
2. What is a Drainage District?
A drainage district is a legally established area of land that drains to a
common outlet. Drainage district
boundaries are determined by natural topography of the land and rarely
correspond to political boundaries such as townships or counties.
Common words for drainage district include watershed and drainage basin.
3. Where Is The Storm Drain
For Which I Am Being Assessed?
The Genesee County Drain Office has maps that can show the location of
your property and the county drains within the drainage district.
These documents will be available on the day of Review often on this website.
Even if your property does not touch the county drain, storm water flows
toward this county drain as an outlet regardless of the land s elevation.
4.
How Are Assessments Determined?
The law requires that assessments be based on benefit derived as determined by
the Drain Commissioner. All properties within the drainage district are assessed
based on size of the parcel and the land use that is assigned by the
municipality. Distances from the
drain or the location of the property within the drainage district are not
factors. Drainage is considered as
an interdependent system with the entire system benefiting from maintenance of
the common outlet.
5. Why Did I Receive More
Than One Special Assessment Notice?
Each notice informs you of a Drain Special Assessment for a different drainage
district. Your property can be in
multiple drainage districts because stormwater moves from smaller watersheds
through larger watersheds, ultimately discharging to the Great Lakes.
For example, if your property were located in a small watershed that is
nested inside a larger watershed, you would receive an assessment for each
district, should they both be assessed in the same year.
6. Is This The Only Way I
Would Receive Multiple Drain Assessments In One Year?
No. Water may flow off your
property in more than one direction of different drains and drainage districts
and all of those drains may be assessed in one year.
7. Do All Property Owners
Pay Drain Assessments?
All property owners within a drainage district receive an assessment, unless
specifically exempted by law. In addition, the Municipality, Genesee County, and the
Michigan Department of Transportation (as appropriate) also receive an
assessment for general health and welfare or benefit to the road.
The Drain Code does not exempt most non-profit or religious properties
from assessment.
8. I Recently Purchased My
Property, Why Am I Being Billed For Work Done Prior To My Ownership?
Although the work for which you are being assessed may have been completed prior
to your purchase of the land, the Drain Code requires that assessments be levied
to the property, and assessed to the current owner of record.
In most cases, the work performed will benefit the property for years to
come.
9. What If I Cannot Attend
The Day Of Review?
If you are unable to attend the Day of Review, and have questions regarding your
assessment or the assessment process, please call the Genesee County Drain
Office; 810-732-1590. It is
possible to make an appointment at times other than the Day of Review, but disputes must be received before or at the day of review to be considered.
10. What Happens If I
Disagree With the Proposed Assessment For My Property?
Appeal of Drain Special Assessments may be made to the Genesee County Probate
Court within 10 days after the Day of Review.
11. I just received and Assessment Letter for my County Drain what does it mean?
Notice are sent when spending limits have been exceeded or if a change has occured in the percentages for the district.
12. I do not live where you did work.
All parcels within a district are assessed for work done. The district is made up of the properties that receive benefit by drain directly or indirectly
to the drain.
13. How does this get paid?
Assessments are put on the winter tax bill. do not send payment.