Tri-City Sun

State Representatives Bill G. Schuette and Mike Hoadley have introduced legislation aimed at providing financial relief for low-income seniors in Midland and Gladwin Counties. The bills seek to help seniors stay in their homes while still funding the restoration of the Sanford, Secord, Smallwood, and Edenville dams.

The proposed plan aims to re-establish Michigan's Special Assessment District Tax Deferral program for individuals aged 65 or older with incomes of $29,619 or less. This program will reduce the financial burden for seniors across Mid-Michigan who would struggle to pay the special assessments district tax on their homesteads, which are being used to rebuild the collapsed dams in their communities.

State Representative Schuette emphasized the importance of this legislation, stating, "This legislation will help ensure we rebuild the dams, bring back the lakes while also making sure we protect those seniors living paycheck to paycheck in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis in Michigan. This reform reinstates a law that existed until 2020, recognizes today's harsh economic climate, and continues to remedy the heartbreaking disaster we saw unfold across our area."

Under the proposed legislation, the state will cover the costs of special assessment taxes until the property is sold or changes hands. This provision will apply to all special assessment taxes across the state of Michigan and will allow low-income seniors to keep their homes while still funding the critical infrastructure projects that these taxes are used to build.

The restoration of the water system comes after the catastrophic structural dam failures that led to the disappearance of Sandford Lake and Wixom Lakes in May 2020. The resulting floods caused significant damage, estimated at around $175 million, to over 2,000 structures in Midland County.

State Representative Hoadley expressed support for the legislation, stating, "This is a practical plan that understands and respects the many challenges seniors living on fixed incomes are facing. It's not their fault that this happened. They shouldn't be penalized for it."

The proposals are contained within House Bills 5419-20. The legislators introduced these bills at the state Capitol in Lansing on Wednesday, January 31.

The introduction of these bills is a significant step in providing financial relief for low-income seniors in the Four Lakes Area. By re-establishing the Special Assessment District Tax Deferral program and covering the costs of special assessment taxes, these measures aim to ensure that seniors can keep their homes while still contributing to the restoration of the dams. This legislation acknowledges the economic hardships faced by seniors and aims to alleviate their financial burden in the wake of the dam failures. As the bills progress through the legislative process, it is hoped that they will receive the necessary support to become law and provide much-needed assistance to the seniors in Midland and Gladwin Counties.