scpetition_valuation.pdf
Trevin Lee Stankiewicz Petitioner V Township Of Howard Respondent · 26-002542-TT
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STATE OF MICHIGAN GRETCHEN WHITMER GOVERNOR DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS LANSING MARLON I. BROWN, DPA DIRECTOR 1 of 3 PROPERTY TAX APPEAL PETITION FORM VALUATION / UNCAPPING APPEAL MTT DOCKET NO. Petitioner’s Contact Information: Filer Type: Individual Local Unit of Government: First Name Trevin M.I. Lee Last Name Stankiewicz Mailing Address (No., Street, P.O. Box or Rural Route) 996 Pine Valley Ct. City or Town Niles State Michigan ZIP Code 49120 Telephone Number 574-265-6600 E-mail Address crash525@gmail.com Subject Property Information: How many parcels are you appealing? 1 If you are appealing more than one parcel, are they contiguous or adjoining? *If no, you must file separate appeals for each parcel N/A Property Address (No., Street) 996 Pine Valley Ct. City or Town Niles County Cass State Michigan ZIP Code 49120-5979 Taxing Authority (City or Township) Township Of Howard (CASS) Check which of the following you are appealing: (check all that apply) Taxable Value Only (calculation) Please Explain the Reason for this Appeal:
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STATE OF MICHIGAN GRETCHEN WHITMER GOVERNOR DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS LANSING MARLON I. BROWN, DPA DIRECTOR 2 of 3 This appeal is based on the taxable value of the surround properties on the same street and in the area. The state equalized and assessed values of the properties in the area are more than mine but I have a higher taxable value. The properties have one or more that are similar or larger house, lot, and out buildings. I pay what seems to be a substantial more than my fellow neighbors while having less. I have talked to the Howard Township Office to find out why there is a discrepancy and I could not get an answer other than "thats just how it it." I filed an appeal and provided documentation of other property's tax information and showing that others pay less then my myself and my wife. When I received the return back two of the three members voted "yes" and one voted "no" and they stated "inadequate documentation." A home a few houses from mine had sold in 2022 for $358,000.00 (Parcel Number 14-020-027-073-00), mine was purchased in 2021 for $327,000.00 (Parcel Number 14-020-034-011-10), this other property has a similar size house but has a larger pole barn and almost five times as much land with an animal stable and it sold for more than my house when I purchased it. They pay a drastically lower amount in property taxes. They have a lower taxable, assessed, and state equalized value. I wanted someone at the Township office to make sense of this to me but they could not explain. In 2026 I had a pole barn building completed and when the new tax assessment came out the increase was almost 13% ($479.) (Parcel Number 14-020-034-011-20) has a large pole barn with a larger house and the same size property yet they pay less than I do in taxes each year. There was an increase in taxable amount in years 2024, 2025, and 2026 that I want to appeal based on the findings from similar sized homes and properties in the area. With the large increases from 2023 to 2024 and 2024 to 2025. During those times nothing at my property had changed and no improvements were made. The only improvement was in 2026 when the pole barn was completed. Another home close by (Parcel Number 14-020-027-076-01) appears to have a larger home, property, and outbuilding has a assessed and state equalized value almost $80,000.00 more than my property but has almost $30,000.00 less taxable value. The properties that I have listed are in good visual shape and not dilapidated or deteriorated. One other property that had sold in 2023 (Parcel Number 14-020-034-014-17) sold for $369,000.00 which has a similar sized house, smaller property, and what appears to have a larger pole barn. Their assessed and state equalized value is $34,000.00 less than mine. The assessed value is $1,042 more than mine. For 2025 taxes the property owed is $4,102.61 while mine were $3,303.71. There seems to be a discrepancy between most similar homes and how they are assessed and valued. I cannot understand the reason behind this. I have researched numerous homes within .5 miles of my home and there seems to be a large discrepancy with property values. In the current tax statement that was sent out the 2025 values do not line up correctly with the Cass County GIS report. I had printed them in March of 2026 and the value amounts had changed recently from when I checked on 7-2-2026 for the coinciding years. It reflects statements from 2022 to 2026. I have printouts for others as well showing discrepancies in the years with other properties. For example on my property GIS report from of 3/8/26 to 7/2/26 in "total valuations" taxable value for 2025 first listed $156,315 and the new print was listed at $152,206. My property class is listed as 402 residential - vacant while others are listed as 401 residential-improved. I had asked the assessor about this and they stated "changing that does not make a difference." When asking the assessor how the property taxes work after the increases they stated "my property taxes should not increase after the first year they are assessed from moving in and should not go up in value." This has no been true. I was also told that once a home in the area sells or makes improvements such as additions or new garages that the property gets reassessed. Some of the homes did not appear that way. I will pay the taxes that are owed and fair, but if there is a discrepancy that I pay more or someone else pays less for similar home size, property size, and outbuildings for which ever reason I feel that should be corrected. Jurisdictional Issues: Did you protest the assessment at a Board of Review? Yes If Yes, check which Board of Review you attended: March If No, please check the applicable reason(s):
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STATE OF MICHIGAN GRETCHEN WHITMER GOVERNOR DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS LANSING MARLON I. BROWN, DPA DIRECTOR 3 of 3 Year(s) Under Appeal: 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 Valuation Information for Each Parcel under Appeal: Parcel Number: 14-020-034-011-10 Classification of Property: Real (check one) Residential (check one) Current Assessed Value as established by the Board of Review: 230900 Current Taxable Value as established by the Board of Review: 172315 What do you believe is the fair market value? 350000 Multiply the True Cash Value by .5 and enter here. This is your contention of Assessed Value. 175000 If you believe the Taxable Value differs from your contention of Assessed Value, enter your contention of Taxable Value. 55900 Electronic Signature *Typing your name below will serve as your signature Petitioner’s Signature: /s/ Trevin Stankiewicz Attorney or Authorized Agent’s Signature: /s/ Fee Information: If you do not have a Principal Residence Exemption of at least 50% at the time of the filing of this petition, you are required to pay a filing fee for the filing of this appeal. The filing fee is based on the greater of State Equalized Value or Taxable Value in contention. If you are appealing more than one parcel, the parcel with the highest State Equalized Value or Taxable Value in contention will be used to determine your filing fee, plus $25.00 will be added for each additional parcel being appealed. Property tax appeal: Residential** Non-Residential SEV or TV in contention* Filing fee*** Filing Fee** $100,000 or less...........................................................................................$ 125.00 $250.00 $100,000.01 to $500,000.00.........................................................................$ 200.00 N/A More than $500,000…..................................................................................$ 300.00 N/A Does the subject property have a principal residence exemption of at least 50% as of the date of the filing of this petition? Yes