Legislation from State Representative Bill G. Schuette providing fairness for property owners in Midland and Gladwin counties and across the state was advanced today in overwhelming, bipartisan fashion by the Michigan House.

Currently, state lands like those owned by the Department of Natural Resources are exempt from special assessments, such as drain assessments, unless noted otherwise. This exemption ultimately shifts the financial burden onto property owners, communities or counties.

Schuette’s plan, House Bill 4118, allows county drain commissioners to apply drain assessments to DNR-managed property the same way they would to private property or other state property. Schuette noted Michigan Department of Transportation property can currently be assessed, and the legislation provides uniformity with what falls under the DNR.

“This issue sounds abstract but has real consequences,” Schuette said when addressing the bill on the House floor. “In my district, the Curtice Drain cuts across Midland and Gladwin counties and needs serious maintenance. But because the drain mainly falls along DNR-managed property, the costs of assessment fall disproportionately and dramatically on just a few local farmers whose properties narrowly touch the drain.

“The DNR refusing to pay their fair share drives up costs for Michiganders across our two peninsulas. This policy is about fairness to Michigan property owners. It’s time to send the DNR’s exemption down the drain.”

HB 4118 now moves to the Senate for consideration.

PHOTO INFORMATION: State Rep. Bill G. Schuette speaks on House Bill 4118 at the state Capitol on Tuesday, May 13.