Show All Answers

1. When is my 2023 tax bill due?

Summer tax bills are mailed approximately July 1st and are due on September 14, 2023.  You are able to pay past due summer bills at City Hall until February 29, 2024.

Winter tax bills are mailed approximately December 1st and are due on February 14, 2024.  You are able to pay past due winter bills at City Hall until February 29, 2024.

If you wish to pay delinquent taxes beginning March 1, 2024, you must contact the Berrien County Treasurer at 269-983-7111 extension 8569 or click here for the County’s website.

2. Where do I pay delinquent taxes?

Delinquent taxes beginning March 1 every year  MUST be paid to Berrien County Treasurer at 701 Main Street, St. Joesph, MI 49085. You can call Berrien County Treasurer's Office at 269-983-7111 ext. 8569 or click here for the County's website.

3. Why are my taxes so much higher than last year?

If you purchased your home in the prior year, your taxable value was "uncapped." Uncapping is part of a change made in the tax laws in 1994 with the passage of Proposal A. There are two values placed on property a Taxable Value, which is used to calculate your taxes and the Assessed or Equalized Value, which is 50% of fair market value. When there is a transfer of ownership, the following year the Taxable Value and Assessed Value become equal. Sometimes this will result in a sizable increase to your property taxes.

When there is a transfer of ownership a Property Transfer form must be filed with the Assessor's Office.
For a copy of Property Transfer Affidavit click here.

4. How can I protest my Assessed Value?

Every March the Board of Review meets to listen to petitions on property values. The Board of Review is a three-member board of Bridgman residents appointed by the Mayor and Council. After meeting with the Board of Review and getting their decision, a property owner may appeal further to the Michigan Tax Tribunal in writing.

Notice of Change of Assessment are mailed to every property owner in the last week of February. Please review this notice carefully and contact our office immediately if there are any errors on the notice. The notice will also contain the dates that the Board of Review will meet.

5. What is a Principal Resident Exemption (or Homestead) and how does it affect my taxes?

In 1994, with the passage of Proposal A, the laws affecting how taxes are determined were changed drastically. One of the major changes was implementing a Homestead Exemption, now called the Principal Resident Exemption (PRE). Property owners are eligible for this exemption on the primary residence that they must own and occupy for 6 months every year. This exempts the property owner from paying local school operating millage. Currently, this is approximately 9 mills or $9.00 per every $1,000 of taxable value on your home. In order to be entitled for this exemption for the current year you must file a "Principal Residence Exemption (PRE) Affidavit" (Form 2368) for taxes on or before June 1 or on or before November 1.

For a copy of the Principal Resident Exemption Form please visit the Assessor's webpage

6. What is the current millage rate?

The current millage rates are:

Summer 2023	Homestead $33.0875	Non-Homestead $41.9675
Winter 2022	Homestead $1.1987	Non-Homestead $1.1987

For a Property Tax Estimator, please visit here.

7. I didn't get my tax bill in the mail, do I have to pay the penalty?

The Treasurer's Office strives continually to ensure accuracy in information on file. However, it is the property owner's responsibility to carefully review all tax statements and/or notices sent by the city. Please examine your statement closely to assure accuracy.

Check your parcel I.D. number before paying your taxes. You are responsible if you pay on the wrong parcel.

Failure to receive your tax bill doesn't relieve you of having to pay penalties. We mail tax bills approximately July 1st and December 1st every year. 

The State courts on numerous occasions have affirmed the fact. In 51 American Jurisprudence, page 838, Section 953, it is stated as follows:

In general it may be said that the law recognizes no excuse for failure of a property owner to pay promptly taxes which have been duly and properly assessed against his property; he is not relieved from the consequence of his delinquency in not paying his taxes because of ignorance of the amount, time or payment or both.There are no provisions to authorize the cancellation of interest on taxes.