Local News
Houghton, Keweenaw see equalization increases; ag down but residences up
By JANE NORDBERG, DMG Writer
POSTED: May 1, 2008
HOUGHTON — Taxable value rates for properties in Houghton and Keweenaw counties have increased over last year, according to the counties’ equalization director, John Partanen.
Both county boards recently received and approved reports by Partanen which detail the changes in state equalized value and taxable value for the two counties.
Total taxable value for properties in Houghton county increased to $680,477,764, compared with the 2007 taxable value rate of $650,787,603.
State equalized value for the same properties increased to $993,860,585, compared with the 2007 state equalized value of $953,842,428.
Partanen’s report to the Houghton County Board detailed both the SEV and taxable values for the county’s two cities and 14 townships, broken down into categories of use: agricultural, commercial, industrial, residential, timber-cutover and developmental.
County totals for agricultural property for 2008 were half of what they were in 2007; total taxable value of those properties in 2007 were $14,328,792 versus $7,761,038 in 2008.
Partanen explained those decreases were the result of a stringent review of property use in the last year by municipal assessors.
“Some (properties) were found not to be eligible for the agricultural exemption,” Partanen said. “The state is really looking at who is getting the exemption and most of them went into the residential class.”
The property use reclassification from agricultural properties to residential properties was a similar story in Keweenaw County.
State-equalized values increased in that county to $198,646,731, up from $175,671,745 in 2007. Taxable values also increased, totalling $117,812,158 this year over last year’s $110,899,913 total.
Partanen told the Houghton County Board that economically, local counties were not in as dire straits as some of their downstate counterparts.
“We’re not in as bad shape as lower Michigan as far as rapidly decreasing sale prices,” Partanen said. “We do have fewer properties moving, but our acreage and waterfront are still selling well.”
Partanen is a full-time equalization director for Houghton County and is interim equalization director for Keweenaw County, where Zoning Administrator Joan Nelson is pursuing additional certification to prepare her for the equalization director position.
Keweenaw County Board of Commissioners Vice-Chair Joe Langdon lauded Partanen at the county’s April 16 meeting for his efforts on behalf of the county.
“I applaud you,” Langdon said following Partanen’s report. “You’re paid to do a part-time job while Joanie is learning, and we all know you’re not working part-time. You’ve both done a great job for us, and we appreciate it.”
Copies of the reports can be reached by calling the Houghton County Equalization Office at 482-0250 or the Keweenaw Equalization and Zoning Office at 337-3471.
Jane Nordberg can be reached at jnordberg@mininggazette.com
Both county boards recently received and approved reports by Partanen which detail the changes in state equalized value and taxable value for the two counties.
Total taxable value for properties in Houghton county increased to $680,477,764, compared with the 2007 taxable value rate of $650,787,603.
State equalized value for the same properties increased to $993,860,585, compared with the 2007 state equalized value of $953,842,428.
Partanen’s report to the Houghton County Board detailed both the SEV and taxable values for the county’s two cities and 14 townships, broken down into categories of use: agricultural, commercial, industrial, residential, timber-cutover and developmental.
County totals for agricultural property for 2008 were half of what they were in 2007; total taxable value of those properties in 2007 were $14,328,792 versus $7,761,038 in 2008.
Partanen explained those decreases were the result of a stringent review of property use in the last year by municipal assessors.
“Some (properties) were found not to be eligible for the agricultural exemption,” Partanen said. “The state is really looking at who is getting the exemption and most of them went into the residential class.”
The property use reclassification from agricultural properties to residential properties was a similar story in Keweenaw County.
State-equalized values increased in that county to $198,646,731, up from $175,671,745 in 2007. Taxable values also increased, totalling $117,812,158 this year over last year’s $110,899,913 total.
Partanen told the Houghton County Board that economically, local counties were not in as dire straits as some of their downstate counterparts.
“We’re not in as bad shape as lower Michigan as far as rapidly decreasing sale prices,” Partanen said. “We do have fewer properties moving, but our acreage and waterfront are still selling well.”
Partanen is a full-time equalization director for Houghton County and is interim equalization director for Keweenaw County, where Zoning Administrator Joan Nelson is pursuing additional certification to prepare her for the equalization director position.
Keweenaw County Board of Commissioners Vice-Chair Joe Langdon lauded Partanen at the county’s April 16 meeting for his efforts on behalf of the county.
“I applaud you,” Langdon said following Partanen’s report. “You’re paid to do a part-time job while Joanie is learning, and we all know you’re not working part-time. You’ve both done a great job for us, and we appreciate it.”
Copies of the reports can be reached by calling the Houghton County Equalization Office at 482-0250 or the Keweenaw Equalization and Zoning Office at 337-3471.
Jane Nordberg can be reached at jnordberg@mininggazette.com
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