Show All Answers

1. What is the millage rate?

The 2019 Summer Homestead millage rate is 43.6318 mills. The Summer Non-Homestead millage rate is 61.6318 mills. The difference is the 18 mills levied on Summer Non-Homestead properties by the Taylor School District. The Winter Homestead millage rate is 8.4653. The Winter Non-Homestead millage rate is 8.4653.

2. What is the difference between "real" and "personal" property?

Real property is typically land, buildings (including homes) and other permanent structures. A homeowner pays real property taxes on their home. "Personal" property is typically machinery and equipment used in a business. A business taxpayer may therefore receive bills for both real and personal property. In Taylor, a personal property parcel number will start with the sequence 60-999-00.

3. How are taxes calculated?

Taxes are calculated by taking a property’s taxable value and multiplying it by the appropriate millage rates.

4. What is a mill?

A mill is the measurement unit of the millage rate. One “mill” equals one dollar of tax on every thousand dollars of taxable value. For example, if a property’s taxable value is $30,000, then 1 mill would equate to $30 tax liability.

5. What is the City's millage rate for Summer 2015 Tax Roll?

Find a breakdown of this tax roll on our Summer 2015 Tax Roll Page.

6. Why were new line items included on the Summer tax bill: “Garbage and Disposal Tax,” “Police and Fire Pension,” and “Taylor Building Authority”?

These are not new taxes. In previous years, the “Garbage and Disposal,” the “Police and Fire Pension,” and the “Taylor Building Authority” taxes were included in the “City of Taylor” tax line. These tax levies are restricted for a particular function, and for better transparency, were separated on the tax bill.

7. What levies are included under the “City of Taylor” tax line item?

Starting with Summer 2014 tax bill, the “City of Taylor” tax line item included the City operating levy, the Library levy and the publicity levy.

8. What is the “Garbage and Disposal tax” line item?

This is not a new tax. This levy is related to the collection and/or disposal of garbage and/or rubbish, and for the operation of an animal shelter or dog pound.

9. What is the “Police and Fire Pension” tax line item?

This is not a new tax. The Police and Fire pension millage is authorized by Michigan Act 345 of 1937 and was voted in by City residents years ago. This millage rate is tied to the police and fire retiree pension and healthcare liability. As the annual liability fluctuates, the millage rate will fluctuate. According to Act 345 language, the millage can increase or decrease without a public vote. The annual increase/decrease is approved by Council before the tax year.

10. What is the “Taylor Building Authority” tax line item?

This is not a new tax. This levy is authorized under the Michigan Building Authority Act (Act 31 of 1948). The City levies the tax to pay the Taylor Building Authority for lease obligations and maintenance of buildings in which the Authority has a secure interest in.

11. What is the difference in total City tax rate from the previous year?

The total operating levy, Police and Fire Pension, and Taylor Building Authority line items all decreased from the previous year.

12. Why can the Police and Fire millage rate increase without a vote of the public?

The Police and Fire millage is authorized by Act 345 of 1937 and was voted in by City residents years ago. This millage rate is tied to the police and fire retiree pension and healthcare liability. As the annual liability fluctuates, the millage rate will fluctuate. According to Act 345 language, the millage can increase or decrease without a public vote.

13. What are the main items related to the Winter Tax Bill?

The Winter tax bill is primarily taxes levied by Wayne County including county, DIA, jail, parks, Huron Clinton Metro Authority, community college, transit, EPA levy, and zoological authority.

14. What are the various taxing entities?

The City Treasurer collects the taxes on behalf of all the other taxing entities, including Wayne County, the Taylor School District, the State of Michigan, and the Wayne County Intermediate School District, and disburses the taxes to those other entities at regular intervals. Less than one-half of the taxes are levied by the City. Taxes pay for approximately 50% of the services provided by the various taxing entities.

15. What is the Wayne County EPA levy and when does it expire?

The EPA levy is part of the Winter tax bill, and is a federal court ordered millage to pay for EPA mandated sewer improvements in the Downriver area, including Taylor. The levy is paid to Wayne County to cover bonds issued by the County to pay for the sewer improvements. The EPA levy will expire when the bonds are paid off in approximately the year 2028.