Assessing

Welcome

Assessing Department Business Hours: 

Monday-Thursday 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM

Fridays: 8:00 AM - Noon

How To Read Your Assessment Notice

Please click here for an important notice to persons holding personal property in Gaines Charter Township

Please click here for 2026 Assessment Information

*Most application forms and permits are in PDF Format    and require the FREE Adobe® Acrobat® Reader available from the Adobe website. If Acrobat Reader is not an option you may download the document, complete and email to jim.zenas@gainestownship.org, mike.visbara@gainestownship.org, or karen.gehrls@gainestownship.org,

The Assessing Department is responsible for the inventory of all property within Gaines Charter Township, and the valuation of all the Township's taxable property. They maintain records of current ownership, assessed and taxable values, property characteristics and market data.  The Assessing Department follows the requirements of the General Property Tax Law of the State of Michigan.

In addition, the Assessor is responsible for ensuring that every resident who qualifies, receives a Principal Residence (Homestead) Exemption.  Property transfers are also reviewed to determine whether or not a transferred property should be uncapped.

Staff

The staff of Gaines Charter Township's Assessing Department is well educated, experienced, and happy to be of service. Staff name, title, and contact information is listed below for your convenience. All phone calls and email inquiries will be responded to within 48 hours.  You do not need an appointment to meet with the Assessor.

Tax & Property Information

We have provided a link to BS&A software so that you can look up information pertaining to real property, special assessments, tax payments (current and history), water and sewer accounts, and building permits. Please click here to be redirected to the BS&A website.  

To view the Economic Condition Factor (ECF), please click here, and Land Value Analysis used in the determination of 2025 assessments, please click here.

Did You Know?

Taxable Value, assessment, Principal Residence Exemptions; the assessing system is quite complex.  We've compiled a list of quick facts to help you understand the assessing system.  If you don't see the information you need, feel free to stop in or call us.

• Annual changes of assessment are based on sales in the neighborhood.  There are over 19 neighborhoods in Gaines Charter Township.  Your neighborhood rarely consists of just the homes on your street.
• Discovery of new value on the property and uncapping due to a transfer of ownership will adjust the taxable value beyond the CPI.
• Your taxable value can never exceed your assessed value.
• Principal Residence Exemptions that are in effect January 1st each year, stay in effect for the calendar year.
• The June 1st and November 1st filing deadlines for Principal Residence Exemptions applies to new applications only.  You do not need to reapply each year.
• A property Transfer Affidavit must be filed whenever real estate is transferred.
• The Assessor is not permitted by State Law to set your new assessment at one half of your purchase price.
• It is your responsibility as a taxpayer, to review your property record card periodically to be sure you agree with all the information that is currently on record.
• The Assessing Department staff is available Monday thru Thursday from 8:00AM - 5:30PM, Fridays 8:00AM - Noon. 
• Our public records are open for inspection during normal business hours.
  

REGIS

Aerial photos, bus, road, and other information are now available to residents through the REGIS Public Internet Mapping System, an agency of the Grand Valley Metro Council. Click on the logo below for details:
 

Please click here to access a Gaines Charter Township parcel finder map.

State of Michigan Forms

• State of Michigan Forms

Most application forms and permits are in PDF Format    and require the FREE Adobe® Acrobat® Reader available from the Adobe website.