Shocking Summer Taxes
Save Email Print
Updated: 7:56 PM Jul 7, 2009
Shocking Summer Taxes
What to do if you can't handle your taxes
Posted: 5:14 PM Jul 7, 2009
Reporter: Lauren Zakalik
Email Address: lauren.zakalik@wilx.com
Font Size:

Ron Krak just put his DeWitt home on the market so he and his wife can move to Arizona.

He says they're ready to escape the area's down economy, cold weather, and something else, which just arrived in the mail the other day.

"I got my tax assessment," he says, and "it's a pretty good, hefty chunk."

Nearly $4,000-- just for the summer tax installment.

"And then winter taxes is almost $1,000-- we're talking almost $5,000 a year," Krzak says.

Krzak isn't the only one footing some pretty hefty-- and growing-- bills.

"Taxes are going up this year," says Lisa Grysen, DeWitt City Treasurer.

Grysen says, for the most part, Michigan homeowners are all seeing the same frustrating situation: their taxes are up, but their home values are down.

That's thanks to Proposal A, which says your taxable value can increase at 5 percent a year, or at the rate of inflation-- whichever is less. This year, it's inflation at 4.4 percent.

The proposal saved people money when the housing market was doing well, but...

"That'll probably be little consolation for a property owner with the job market the way it is, to afford property taxes," says DeWitt City Administrator Chris Olson.

Fortunately, if you feel like you can't afford to pay the taxes by the Septmeber 30 deadline, there are some payment options-- just call your city assessor and talk it over with him or her.

"We've had a lot of people ask if they can make partial payments, I'm more than happy to help in any way," Grysen says.

And senior citizens and disabled people can also apply to have their payments deferred until February 14. They would face no penalty or interest.

Krzak says he's just going to cough it up in whole-- and hopes he's in Arizona by the next tax deadline.


WILX Poll
Are You Starting Your Christmas Shopping Now Because Of Early Black Friday Deals?

Yes
No


Bernero Wins Another Four Years
Bernero Wins Another Four Years
  • Posted By: Sandito all of you who voted for Virg. Well most of the jobs went to out of town workers, like the guys who did the streets, from OHIO!, the workers down town who are from all over but Lansing. The people who have tried to work with him in neighborhoods know that its either his way or his way. He does not care what was told or promised to you, he makes sure it's his way. If you don't like it TOO BAD FOR YOU!! If you opossed him on something gee something is not right in you neighborhood and it is not the citys fault. You and your neighbors are doing something ilegal. How do I know? I have one of the letters they sent to my neighborhood. Good Luck Lansing
  • Posted By: Congradulations to the City of Lansing! You re-elected someone who is totally beyond belief. A man who thinks if your a developer your the best thing to happen to the city, even it your less than honest. But if your a home owner who lives here... So you wanted him and we are now stuck with him for another 4 years. A man who went into QD for donuts, and had to have the clerk put them in a box for him because he did not know how. What a great guy for the mayor. Most of you have never had to try to deal with him, for fight him and his people for what was promised to them and then changed. You wait your turns are comming.
  • Posted By: BradBOY THATS JUST GREAT. I GUESS I'LL NEVER WORK IN LANSING THE NEXT FOR YEARS,BUTIM SURE VIRG WILL HIRE THE SCABS FROM GRAND RAPIDS AND HEAR HOW GREAT THE CITY IS DOING. THANKS VIRG FOR YOUR GREATGUIDENCE AND FABULOUS LIESD
  • Posted By: kI think you people are neglecting the real culprit for Lansing's troubles as well as the state of Michigan.Look who we have in the capitol sitting there in her office,telling us all a bunch of lies and making promises that she knows she can't keep. Don't be so hard on our Mayor when it's our governor who needs to be scrutinized.
  • Posted By: BillMy condolances to the residents of Lansing. You had your chance to rid yourself of your major embarrasment but chose not to. I hope it does not come back to haunt you in the next 4 loooooong years.
  • Posted By: BillGREAT! ! ! Michigan is still going to end up downhill. Why dont we just re-elect Granholm for Governor? Better off, why not elect Jim carry for president?, since this all seems to be such a comical situation... GO MICHIGAN! ! ! Move here!, NO JOBS! but it is such a pretty state.. Keep up the good work VIRG! ! Why cant you people making thousands take a cut? I personally think because taking from the middle class and the poor puts so much more in your pockets 2 thumbs down for you and our Govenor. Best wishes on continuing to bring down our state.
  • Posted By: BillThank GOD that Carol Wood did not win! Anyone who thinks that neighborhoods generate revenue needs to get their head out of the clouds and take an introductory economics course. Jobs come BEFORE better neighborhoods, not the other way around.
  • Posted By: Shocked...Congrats Virg...and I mean that with the utmost sarcarism...I do not live within the city of Lansing, thus could not vote but had I been able to I would not have voted for him. I am a city of Lansing employee and Virg has done NOTHING for the cities employees but cut jobs, benefits...take take take. Nor for the city in general...His motto in the last election was "Lansing Works" ironic that ALL of the construction on Michigan ave was done by scab's from Grand Rapids, and let's mention all the mums he planted along that road to the tune of $30,000.00 that only lasted one year and then died because they were not properly winterized, so the next spring they all got dug up, thrown away and more were planted to the tune of another $30,000.00. Tax payers money hard at work there. City employees have been working without a contract for nearly three years, no raises in site but his staff got a 20% increase last year alone...WAY to GO Virg...shame on you and your corrupt misguided politics...
WILX Special Section
Stock Quotes
Real Time Stock Quotes.
Reinventing GM
Follow GM's Progress
WILX Pet-Pals
Find Your Companion Adopt A Pet
FinditLansing.com
From Clothes To Appliances Buy or Sell It
Relay For Life
Find Relays In Your Area
DTV Information
Need Help With Digital Television?
Interactive Weather Map
Get Your Weather Where Ever When Ever
Lansing's History
Find Out What Happened This Week in History.
Sponsored Headlines
AP Videos