City Guide
Financial and Administrative
Accounting
City Hall, 5th floor [map]794-6500. Fax: 994-2777
This division of the finance unit is managed by Karen Lancaster. The office oversees the city’s accounting, auditing, payroll, procurement and grant services and provides citizens with information on the city’s financial condition.
Assessor
City Hall, 5th floor [map]794-6530. Fax: 997-1437
This division of the finance unit, headed by David Petrak, determines the assessed and taxable value of all property for property tax purposes. The office keeps assessment and ownership records of properties.
Property owners who disagree with their annual assessment can appeal to a City council-appointed board of review. A three-member board hears appeals once a year for at least four days, starting the 3rd Mon. in Mar. Residents may address the board in person; nonresident owners, seniors, or homebound people may mail their appeals to the assessor’s office. The board has the authority to decrease or increase any assessment. The board may also grant a poverty exemption, which must be renewed annually, to home owners who meet specific income levels and other requirements. Anyone who purchases a home must fill out a property transfer affidavit (available at the assessor’s office) within 45 days. Home owners who both own and occupy their property may fill out a principal residence affidavit to obtain a lower tax rate. Businesses that are opening or closing should contact the assessor’s office about personal property taxes.
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Finance administration
City Hall, 5th floor [map]794-6500. Fax: 994-1271
The city’s finance unit, headed by Tom Crawford, is responsible for coordinating budget development, strategic planning, city bonding, economic development, and analytical support for other service areas.
Treasurer
City Hall, 5th floor [map]994-2833. Fax: 994-6010
Treasurer Matthew Horning is responsible for collecting city revenues, which include property taxes, parking fines, water and sewer bills, and all invoices for city services. Citizens can pay their bills at the customer service center at City Hall, 301 E. Huron; at drop boxes in City Hall's lobby; by mail; at select local banks; and online at a2gov.org/government/publicservices/customerservice/pages/citya2self-serviceportal.aspx. See the Parking & Transportation section of this guide for information on contesting parking tickets. The treasurer is also responsible for risk management. Anyone who wishes to file an insurance claim against the city should call the risk management office at 794-6570. Claim forms are available on the city’s website at a2gov.org/financialadminservices/planning/pages/claimagainstcity.aspx
Property taxes are billed twice a year, July and Dec. Residents may pay property taxes online at a2gov.org/taxpayment using their checking account, savings account or credit/debit card. Credit/debit card transactions are charged a transaction fee pursuant to state law. If you own property in Ann Arbor, and it's your primary residence, your property was taxed at a rate of $40.2759 per $1,000 in July 2010 and $4.9117 per $1,000 in December 2010. Non Pre Real Property (non-primary residence) owners were taxed at a rate of $47.0505 per $1,000 in July 2010 and $11.6864 per $1,000 in December 2010.
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