Terms Used In Michigan Laws 324.51116

  • Ad valorem general property tax: means taxes levied under the general property tax act, 1893 PA 206, MCL 211. See Michigan Laws 324.51101
  • declassification: means the removal of the commercial forest designation pursuant to section 51116. See Michigan Laws 324.51101
  • Department: means the director of the department of natural resources or his or her designee to whom the director delegates a power or duty by written instrument. See Michigan Laws 324.301
  • Forest management plan: means a written plan prepared and signed by a registered forester or a natural resources professional that prescribes measures to optimize production, utilization, and regeneration of forest resources. See Michigan Laws 324.51101
  • Fund: means the commercial forest fund created under section 51112. See Michigan Laws 324.51101
  • Owner: means a person who holds title to the surface estate of forestland subject to this part. See Michigan Laws 324.51101
  If, after providing notice and an opportunity for a hearing, the department determines that a commercial forest was used in violation of this part, that the owner failed to pay the specific tax pursuant to section 51105, that the owner failed to report to the department pursuant to section 51111, that minerals were removed in violation of section 51113, or, after an owner certifies to the department that a forest management plan has been prepared and is in effect, that the owner failed to plant, harvest, or remove forest products in compliance with the owner’s forest management plan, then the department shall remove the commercial forest designation for the commercial forest, serve a notice of declassification of the lands upon the owner, and record a copy of the declassification in the office of the register of deeds of the county in which the lands are located. Upon declassification, the land is subject to the ad valorem general property tax. Within 30 days after the service of the declassification notice on the owner, the owner shall pay both of the following:
  (a) A fee equal to the withdrawal application fee described in section 51108 to the department for deposit into the fund.
  (b) An amount equal to the penalty described in section 51108 to the township treasurer of the township in which the land is located to be distributed, except as provided in section 51109(2), in the same proportions to the various funds as the ad valorem general property tax is allocated in the township.