Day of Review of Drainage District Boundaries and Review of Apportionments

The Michigan Legislature passed a law in 2013 to allow revisions to historical drainage district boundaries when recommended by a licensed engineer. Property owners can review changes with the Drain Office staff during the Day of Review.

A drainage district is the land area that benefits from the drain. The drainage district makes up the watershed that contributes water to the drain. Each property and municipality within the drainage district pays for maintenance and improvement of the drain.

Revisions are recommended because the historic drainage district boundaries do not accurately reflect the current watershed of the drain.

A Day of Review of Apportionments provides an opportunity for property owners to review the percent of benefit of the drain assigned to their property. The apportionments of benefit are based on acreage, land use, and other factors. The apportionments determine the assessment amount for each property for costs of construction or maintenance.

Parcel apportionments are being revised to more accurately reflect the percentage of benefit that each property receives from the drain.  If a parcel is on the outer boundary of a drainage district, it is possible that only a portion of the parcel will be assessed.

Notices went out to the following property owners:

• Properties being added to the Drainage
  • District. The properties were not previously in the drainage district, but the engineers determined that the properties are within the drain’s watershed.
• Properties being removed from the Drainage
  • District. The properties were previously in the drainage district, but the engineers determined that the properties are not in the drain’s watershed.
• Properties currently in the Drainage District and proposed to remain in the Drainage
  • District. There is no change in terms of boundaries for these properties. All property owners subject to an assessment were sent a copy of the notice.

Drain assessments are included on your Winter Tax bill, and are only levied when costs are incurred for the drain. Assessment amounts vary from year to year.

Estimated assessment amounts are included in your notice and are also available at the Day of Review.

You are not required to attend the Day of Review.