Welcome to Au Train Township!

Au Train Township has a population of 1,247, with about 60% being year round residents. This estimate is based on the 2000 Census and Voter Registration files. It's estimated that about 50% of our population is over the age of 40, most of which choose this area for retirement. We have three distinct areas in our Township: The Village of Au Train, The Village of Christmas and the 16 Mile Lake Area.

What this site might be useful to users for?

Residents looking for information about the Township Board, copies of Board Minutes, applications for voting, Zoning permits and general questions (when does my garbage get picked up, when are taxes due, etc.) Also people thinking about moving into Au Train Township might access the site about recreation information, real estate, schools, climate etc.

Winter Tax Bills will be mailed out on December 2, 2013. If you have any questions regarding your bill, contact Treasurer, Ann Clapp, at (906)892-8273.

Special Board Meeting, Au Train Township Board, Monday, December 2, 2013, 6:00 pm, Au Train Township Hall/Offices

ANNOUNCEMENT: 100% Disabled Veterans Exemption 12/02/2013

Due to Governor Snyder’s recent signing into law of P.A. 161 of 2013, disable veterans qualify for a 100% exemption ofproperty tax based on certain criteria. The Act amends MCL 211.7b regarding Veterans Exemptions to read as follows:

Sec. 7b.(1) Real property used and owned as a homestead by a disabled veteran who was discharged from the armed forces of the United States under honorable conditions or by an individual described in subsection (2) is exempt from the collection of taxes under this act. To obtain the exemption, an affidavit showing the facts required by this section and a description of the real property shall be filed by the property owner or his or her legal designee with the supervisor or other assessing officer during the period beginning with the tax day for each year and ending at the time of the final adjournment of the local board of review. The affidavit when filed shall be open to inspection. The county treasurer shall cancel taxes subject to collection under this act for any year in which a disabled veteran eligible for the exemption under this section has acquired title to real property exempt under this section. Upon granting the exemption under this section, each local taxing unit shall bear the loss of its portion of the taxes upon which the exemption has been granted.

(2) If a disabled veteran who is otherwise eligible for the exemption under this section dies, either before or after the exemption under this section is granted, the exemption shall remain available to or shall continue for his or her unremarried surviving spouse. The surviving spouse shall comply with the requirements of subsection (1) and shall indicate on the affidavit that he or she is the surviving spouse of a disabled veteran entitled to the exemption under this section. The exemption shall continue as long as the surviving spouse remains unremarried.

(3) As used in this section, “disabled veteran” means a person who is a resident of this state and who meets 1 of the following criteria:

(a) Has been determined by the United States department of veterans affairs to be permanently and totally disabled as a result of military service and entitled to veterans’ benefits at the 100% rate. (b) Has a certificate from the United States veterans’ administration, or its successors, certifying that he or she is receiving or has received pecuniary assistance due to disability for specially adapted housing. (c) Has been rated by the United States department of veterans affairs as individually unemployable. Due to this new law, the following are requirements for eligibility:

This exemption is only available to disabled veterans or, if the veteran has died, to their unremarried surviving spouse who own and use the home as their homestead, also know as principal residence. The disabled veteran or their surviving spouse must be a resident of the State of Michigan. Eligible disabled veterans will be able to apply for a 2013 exemption through December 2013 Board of Review action. An exemption will cancel the July and December 2013 taxes, but will not cancel any taxes levied before 2013. The Act requires an Affidavit be filed. An Affidavit is located on the State of Michigan’s website under Assessing Forms which can be found under Downloads - Assessor
The Affidavit must be filed annually.

PLEASE NOTE – For tax year 2013, the affidavit should be dropped off at the Township office prior to December 10th, along with the certificate verifying the veteran as being 100% disabled or unemployable, so the Township Assessor may present the information to the Board of Review for action. The Board of Review is set to meet at 2 p.m. on December 10th at the Township Hall. Failure to get the affidavit and supporting certification to the Township Assessor by December 10th will result in a qualified disabled veteran not receiving this exemption for 2013. After 2013, the affidavit must be filed with the Township Assessor between December 31st (which is tax day) and the final adjournment of the March Board of Review.