March 14, 2009

With income tax season now in full swing, I want to remind area homeowners that they may qualify for a key property tax credit of up to $1,200.

 Residents whose household income is less than $82,650 may qualify for the Homestead Property Tax Credit. The credit has provided nearly $20.3 billion in relief from property taxes to Michigan homeowners and renters since it was implemented 34 years ago.

 Homeowners should realize that appealing your property tax assessment is not the only way to fight against higher property taxes. Some residents may be able to take advantage of the Homestead Property Tax Credit to lower their overall tax bill.

 In 2008, for example, 1.6 million eligible Michigan homeowners and renters received credits averaging approximately $570 from the program, for a total of about $896 million in property tax relief.

 The credit is based on the percentage of property taxes that are paid relative to income.

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 This week I voted against legislation that would allow Michigan to hire workers outside of Michigan on state-funded construction projects. With the state's unemployment rate the highest in the nation, Michigan workers must always come first when it comes to these projects.

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 Update on March is Reading Month. So far I have read to five elementary schools and am enjoying the questions the children have. The students seem to be interested in government at every level, and are enjoying the emphasis on reading this month.

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 If you have any questions or need assistance with any state issues, please contact me toll free at 1-866-828-4863 or via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .