The Department of Assessing is charged with the annual mandate of the valuation of over 36,000 parcels within the Charter Township of Clinton.  According to the Michigan General Property Tax Laws, P.A. 206 of 1893 as amended, the Assessing Department must discover and value all parcels, both real and personal which are not exempted by law.  Real property is normally described as the land and structures upon it, while personal property is described as furniture, fixtures, machinery, and equipment used in the operation of commercial and industrial businesses.  Currently, the fair market value of all real and personal property in the Township is valued at over seven billion dollars.  The assessment for each parcel (50% of fair market value) may not exceed 50% of market value, according to the Michigan Constitutional Convention of 1963, and taking affect in 1966.

The Assessor for each community must be certified by the Michigan State Assessor’s Board at a level which is determined by the total amount of Assessed Value and the complexity of appraisals to be performed.  Certification levels are from the low of Level-I to a high of Level-IV.  The Assessor for Clinton Township is certified at a Level-IV due to the seven billion dollars of fair market value, as well as the complexity of appraisals.  All field Appraisers on staff as well as the Appraisal Clerk staff are certified from Level-I to Level-III.

In addition to the ad valorem assessment roll (according to value as above described) the Township Assessing Department also maintains values for parcels abated from ad valorem taxes.  A specific tax is paid by those issued certificates under P.A. 198 of 1974, Industrial Facilities and those under Tool and Die Recovery Zones, which are exempted from operating millages.

Due to the volume of appraisals to be performed and reviewed on an annual basis, the cost approach (replacement cost of structure, minus depreciation, plus land value) is used along with computer hardware and software containing the Michigan Tax Manual, to assist the highly qualified staff.  Individual values may also be reviewed using a Comparable Sale approach and/or for incoming producing parcels, the Income Capitalization method.