2015 Senate Bill 356

Authorize property tax to cover dissolved school district's debt

Introduced in the Senate

June 3, 2015

Introduced by Sen. Ken Horn (R-32)

To allow the school districts that absorbed portions of the Buena Vista school district in Saginaw County, which was dissolved in 2012 after becoming fiscally unviable, to levy non-homestead property taxes in the dissolved district's territory to pay off some of debt the failed district incurred to cover operational expenses, subject to restrictions specified in the bill (and in the state constitution). Reportedly the alternative would be for a court to impose a "judgment levy" property tax on residents. See also Senate Bill 173 and House Bill 4644.

Referred to the Committee on Appropriations

June 18, 2015

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (S-3) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

Sept. 10, 2015

Substitute offered by Sen. Ken Horn (R-32)

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises details but does not change the substance as previously described.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Passed in the Senate 31 to 7 (details)

To allow the school districts that absorbed portions of the Buena Vista school district in Saginaw County, which was dissolved in 2012 after becoming fiscally unviable, to levy non-homestead property taxes in the dissolved district's territory to pay off some of debt the failed district incurred to cover operational expenses, subject to restrictions specified in the bill (and in the state constitution). Reportedly the alternative would be for a court to impose a "judgment levy" property tax on residents.

Received in the House

Sept. 10, 2015

Referred to the Committee on Appropriations