Bill would decrease local government’s tax revenues

By RAY WILBUR
Capital News Service
LANSING — Local officials are concerned that a legislative attempt to clarify how charitable organizations are defined could cost them property tax revenues. The bill, introduced by Sen. Jack Brandenburg, R-Harrison Township, would define charitable organizations in a way that exempts more of them from property tax. That may be good for them. But local units of government rely heavily on property tax revenues and this bill would decrease those revenues, said Deena Bosworth, director of governmental affairs at the Michigan Association of Counties. The Senate Fiscal Agency says the bill would decrease property tax revenues by about $27.6 million across the state.