See what the Benzie County tax measure would actually cost you.
This November, Benzie County voters will decide on a countywide tax limitation proposal covering the County, the townships, and an intermediate school district line. Search your address or parcel number below to see your property's estimated yearly increase compared to 2025 rates, with every step of the math shown.
Find your property
By street number or by parcel number.
See your estimate
Township and county math shown separately vs. 2025 rates, plus your total.
Estimate your tax impact
Look your property up one of two ways. If you search by street number and more than one parcel comes back, we'll list them so you can pick the right one.
Just the number, no street name needed. Example: for "4750 Crystal Drive," enter 4750.
The parcel code for Benzie County is the preceding "10-" and is already filled in for you. Enter the rest of your parcel number, we'll add the dashes as you type.
Not sure of either number? It's on your assessment change notice, or you can find it on the county's parcel map (opens in a new tab).
Good to know before you read the numbers above
The county and townships are linked
The County's general operating millage is tied to each township in this proposal. Both reset together: the county cannot change its rate without township participation.
Township millage can vary
Some townships collect a lower millage than they're authorized to. If yours does, your actual increase could be smaller than the estimate above.
This is an estimate, not a bill
This tool calculates only the change from this specific ballot measure, measured against 2025 rates. It does not include school, library, or other millages, and it does not account for exemptions like the Principal Residence Exemption.
What's actually on the ballot
Here is the official language voters will see, reproduced in full, followed by what it means in plain terms.
Separate Tax Limitation
SEPARATE TAX LIMITATION PROPOSAL
Shall separate tax limitations be established for a two-year period (2027-2028 inclusive), or until altered by the voters of the county, for the County of Benzie and the townships and intermediate school districts within the county, the aggregate of which shall not exceed 4.9500 in mills as follows:
| County of Benzie | 3.7700 |
| Townships | 1.0000 |
| Intermediate school district | 0.1800 |
| Total | 4.9500 |
This is not a new tax. Michigan law caps the combined property tax rate for the county, townships, and the intermediate school district, and voters decide how that cap gets divided up. Benzie voters last approved these rate limits in 1982, establishing the County's limit at 5.29 mills. That 1982 limit has been rolled back to today's limit of 3.1874. This proposal is asking to increase these rate limits as shown below.
If passed, the proposal sets the limitation and division for two more years (2027 and 2028) at these maximums:
- County: 3.7700 mills
- Your township: up to 1.0000 mill
- Intermediate school district: 0.1800 mill
- Total cap: 4.9500 mills
These are ceilings, not automatic charges. Local government officials may levy less as their budgets dictate.
This is the main proposal, and it's the one the estimator above calculates automatically. No checkbox needed.
About the ISD line: Michigan law requires the intermediate school district rate to appear on this ballot proposal alongside the county and township rates. But because the ISD's service area extends beyond Benzie County's borders, its millage cannot actually be changed through this measure. That line exists for informational completeness. Only the County and Township figures above are what this vote can change, and are what this calculator estimates.
Animal Control Millage
ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES PROGRAM MILLAGE PROPOSAL
For the purpose of providing funding for the County Animal Control Services Program in Benzie County, shall the tax limitation on general ad valorem taxes within the County of Benzie imposed under Article IX, Sec. 6 of the Michigan Constitution be increased by up to 0.2100 of one (1) mill, ($0.2100 per $1,000 of Taxable Value) for a period of five (5) years (2026-2030) inclusive?
If approved and levied in full, this millage will raise an estimated $423,347 for County Animal Control Services purpose in the first calendar year of the levy.
As required by State law, a portion of the millage may be captured by the City of Frankfort Downtown Development Authority, Benzie County Brownfield Authority, and Honor Corridor Improvement Authority.
Benzie County Animal Control is funded by a property tax voters have approved since 2003, most recently collected at 0.1358. If passed, this proposal continues that funding at an increased rate, up to 0.2100 mill, for five years, 2026 through 2030. It pays for shelter operations, animal medical care, vehicles, buildings, equipment, and supplies.
This is a separate question from the Separate Tax Limitation proposal above and is voted on independently. Use the checkbox in the estimator above to add its impact to your total.
Drug Enforcement Millage
BENZIE COUNTY DRUG ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM OPERATING MILLAGE PROPOSAL
For the purpose of continuing to pay costs of enhancing law enforcement efforts and preserving and protecting the safety of the citizens of Benzie County, specifically for funding the drug interdiction program known as the Traverse Narcotics Team (TNT) and/or other drug enforcement and awareness programs in the TNT jurisdictions, including Benzie County, shall the tax limitation imposed under Article IX, Sec. 6 of the Michigan Constitution on general ad valorem taxes within the County of Benzie, Michigan, as previously approved by the electors of Benzie County, be increased by up to 0.1000 mills ($.1000 per $1,000 of taxable value), and be levied for a period of five (5) years (2026-2030) inclusive?
If approved and levied in full, this millage would raise an estimated $201,594 for County Drug Enforcement Program operating purposes in the first calendar year.
As required by State law, a portion of the millage may be captured by the City of Frankfort Downtown Development Authority, Benzie County Brownfield Authority, and Honor Corridor Improvement Authority.
Benzie County has helped pay for the Traverse Narcotics Team since 2014 with a small property tax. It expired at the end of 2025 at a rate of 0.0970. If passed, this proposal renews the collection and increases it back up to 0.1000 mill for five years, 2026 through 2030. This collection helps ensure that expanded drug enforcement continues in Benzie County.
Also a separate question, funding Benzie's role in the Traverse Narcotics Team (TNT). Use the checkbox in the estimator above to add its impact to your total.
What is taxable value?
Taxable value is the number your property tax bill is actually calculated from. It's different from what your house could sell for on the open market.
Two rules to know
Taxable value can never be more than half your market value
By law, taxable value can't exceed State Equalized Value (SEV), and SEV is set at 50% of true cash value (market value). So even in the worst case, you're taxed on no more than half of what your property is worth.
In practice, it's often a lot lower than that
Taxable value only grows each year by the rate of inflation or 5%, whichever is lower, no matter how much market value jumps. It only resets to match SEV when a property sells or transfers ownership. So if you've owned your home a long time and values have risen a lot, your taxable value can be well below half your market value, sometimes far below it.
What happens when a property sells: uncapping
After a non-exempt transfer of ownership, a property's taxable value is raised to equal its SEV (50% of market value). This is called uncapping. The resulting increase does not mean the county, township, or other taxing authorities collect more total revenue. Uncapping simply shifts a small amount of tax burden from every other (still capped) property onto the newly uncapped one.
Voting in Michigan this November
General election dates and rules for Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Confirm anything time sensitive with your local clerk, since exact hours and sites can vary by community.
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Oct 19
Last day to register online or by mail
Register at Michigan.gov/vote. After this date, you can still register, but only in person at your city or township clerk's office with proof of residency, through Election Day.
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Late Sept
No-excuse absentee voting opens
Any registered voter can request an absentee ballot for any reason. Apply online, by mail, or in person at your clerk's office.
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9+ days out
Early in-person voting
Michigan guarantees at least nine days of early in-person voting before Election Day. Contact the Benzie County Clerk or your township clerk for exact dates, hours, and locations near you.
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Oct 30
Absentee ballot request deadline
5:00 p.m. by mail, or 4:00 p.m. on Monday, November 2 in person at your clerk's office. After that, plan to vote in person or drop your ballot at an official drop box.
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Nov 3
Election Day
Polls are open 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Absentee ballots must be received by your clerk by 8:00 p.m. to count, postmark alone is not enough.
Check your registration and find your clerk
Michigan.gov/vote lets you confirm you're registered, see a sample ballot for this measure, find your polling place, and get your local clerk's contact information.
Visit Michigan.gov/vote