State May Replace Tribunal With Court In Appeals Process Reforms, by Christine MacDonald, The Detroit News

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Michigan officials are pushing for an overhaul in state tax appeals, arguing the process is too complicated and led by inexperienced officials who issue “inconsistent or poorly-reasoned results.”

That’s the conclusion of a draft of reforms being circulated by the Michigan Department of Treasury. The Detroit News obtained the proposal, which would eliminate the state Tax Tribunal that handles assessment appeals from property owners unsatisfied with rulings from local boards.

The state wants to replace the tribunal with a Michigan Tax Court whose judges and magistrates would have more experience and higher pay.

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The proposals follow years of complaints that the tribunal — an administrative court created in 1974 — is too archaic, cumbersome and often hostile to everyday homeowners seeking tax relief. The agency fielded more than 13,400 appeals last year during its “small claims” process, which generally includes residential appeals but also can include some smaller business disputes. The agency doesn’t specifically track residential appeals.