Assessing Department

The City Assessor is responsible for listing all real and personal property in the City of Grosse Pointe Woods. Generally, real property is land and all things attached to it. Personal property is property such as machinery and equipment belonging to a business. Annually, the Assessor is required by state law to individually place an assessment equal to 50 percent of its true cash value on all property in the jurisdiction.

All increases in taxable value are limited to the Consumer Price Index or 5 percent, whichever is smaller. This provision excludes new construction or the transfer of properties. These assessments are compiled in the assessment roll and are one of the factors in determining the property tax bill. The State Tax Commission provides manuals and guidelines to help the Assessor meet the obligation of uniformity and equity. Sales studies are also conducted annually to help estimate values.

Records in the Assessor’s office, including field sheets, appraisal reports, legal descriptions, 18-month sales data, lot and building sizes, are available to the public. Assessment rolls are completed in February and are subject to review by the taxpayers. A formal review is held in March by members of the city’s Board of Review, a body composed of Grosse Pointe Woods citizens appointed by the City Council to review such issues.