Bills sponsored by state Reps. Bill G. Schuette and Mike Hoadley that will help ease sudden financial burdens for low-income seniors and permanently disabled individuals across the state and help them stay in their homes was approved today with broad bipartisan support by the House Finance Committee.

House Bills 4079-80 will re-establish Michigan’s Special Assessment District Tax Deferral program for individuals 65 years and older, or those who are permanently disabled, with incomes of $34,900 or less. The legislation provides commonsense reforms for vulnerable groups across Mid-Michigan who often struggle to pay for special assessments on their homesteads, while making sure needed improvements that benefit or rebuild their areas are still funded.

“This is a major step forward to ensuring we provide seniors and the permanently disabled with needed financial relief, while we continue needed efforts to rebuild the dams,” Schuette said. “I appreciate the bipartisan and near unanimous support of the House Finance Committee and look forward to continuing to advocate for this important policy.”

An assessment is an add-on separate from property tax for repairs or improvements when needed. Unlike a millage, assessments are not voted on by property owners. They are simply assessed and put on the tax rolls by a local governing entity. Schuette and Hoadley’s plans would be extremely helpful for many impacted individuals in Midland and Gladwin counties after they experienced historic flooding in May 2020 and have been tasked with funding repairs for collapsed dams in their communities.

“This special assessment deferment program will ensure that low-income seniors and disabled individuals are not at risk of losing their homes due to special assessments derived from no fault of their own,” Hoadley said. “This deferment plan would be available to, and benefit, any Michigan homeowner that qualifies.”

Under the plans, the state would cover the costs of special assessment taxes up until the property is sold or changes hands.

HBs 4079-80 now move to the floor for consideration.