Treasurer change causes concern from some townships

Several townships and two property assessors raised issues with a decision made last month by new county Treasurer Steve Rutz over tax roll creation.

Rutz met with the Butler Township officials two weeks ago to discuss the change.

He sent a memo on July 12 announcing his office would no longer help create summer or winter tax rolls.

Rutz sent the email which explained, "It is the statutory duty of each local unit's assessor to create the tax roll for each tax season."

"The statutory duty of the county treasurer is to collect delinquent taxes," he explained, referring to the Michigan law.

For at least two decades, the Branch County treasurer's office helped create the twice-a-year tax rolls for some of the townships and municipalities. Other counties around the state no longer produce the tax rolls.

"We have come to the same conclusion and can no longer take on this additional responsibility," Rutz said, adding that his staff needs to focus on what the state, auditors and taxing authorities expect.

There have been changes in the office over the last two years. Ann Vrablic did not run for reelection in 2020. Julie Waterbury, who defeated Rutz in the 2020 elections, left eight months later to take the job as the financial officer for Grand Ledge schools. Rutz was named treasurer in October.

The office saw employee turnover. The assistant treasurer who worked with assessors on tax rolls for over 10 years left before Rutz took over.

Quincy Township treasurer Constance Karney said, "Last year was the most frustrating year we ever had with the county."

Coldwater Township and the cities of Bronson and Coldwater always prepared their own tax rolls. The others saw some delays with tax rolls after Rutz took office, which was worked out.

The treasurer, county equalization office, assessors, and treasurers use the same BS&A program for assessments and taxes.

The process requires the assessor to prepare rolls and send them to their treasurer to issue the bills for collection. The method used in the past by Branch County had the assessor and treasurer's office trying to match assessment rolls so the county treasurer's office could prepare each township's rolls for its treasurer.

Changes are made in prior tax assessments after the assessors prepare rolls with land splits, new buildings, changes to structures, and valuations or exemptions by the boards of review. The county does not have the latest information.

Rutz told Butler Township it took an inordinate amount of time to track down the difference.

"It takes days to balance the rolls with eight assessors," he said.

By law, Rutz said his office is not required to balance the rolls.

"We expect the assessor to prepare the rolls," he said.

Butler Supervisor Gary Smith said the extra cost would add $5,000 yearly to the township costs. He worried with all the entities, "you are pushing $90,000 cost off on the townships."

Rutz hoped it would take less time without the need to balance the rolls.

Butler assessor Erica Ewers said the assessors' and treasurers' computers are not linked to prepare the tax rolls. Rutz said flash drives and emails could be used.

Ewers asked where assessors would get millage rates and special assessments. Rutz said those come from equalization.

Butler Treasurer Deborah Bracy asked why he did not charge the townships for the service.

Rutz said his staff is not undertrained, but overworked.

"We have been cutting corners. We don't have enough time and staff to do the work," he said.

Township officials said they wished Rutz had discussed the issue before he acted. Rutz agreed that would have been better, but would not change his decision since Michigan law does not make tax roll preparation his office's responsibility.

He did agree his office could print the tax bills for local treasurers after they were prepared.