House Republicans Vote to Save Taxpayers Money, Pass Property Tax Reform

Lansing, MI – Yesterday, the Republican-led Michigan House of Representatives passed sweeping property tax reforms. The Hall Effectively Lowering Property taxes & Utility Payments (HELP UP) Plan would reduce monthly bills, lower property taxes, and remove barriers to home ownership. 

The plan would eliminate the state’s portion of property taxes, which would save the average homeowner $900 a year. Additionally, the plan makes it easier for new homeowners to purchase their first home and for people to sell their homes by cutting the real estate transfer tax and pop-up taxes. Right now, new home owners pay thousands of dollars in transfer fees at closing, and are forced to pay higher property taxes when their home’s taxable value resets, but the HELP UP Plan eliminates the transfer tax and fixes the pop-up tax so new homeowners can buy without having to fork over thousands of dollars to the state.

The plan will also help lower Michiganders’ rising utility bills. Thanks to Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s Green New Deal, people’s bills have skyrocketed, but House Republicans want to make sure that any property tax savings major utilities get under the HELP UP plan are passed on to consumers. The plan guarantees a minimum cut of $1 billion to utility rates through a mandatory rollback, saving customers across Michigan money.

“House Republicans have again shown the people of Michigan that they’re listening, that they care, and that they have the right priorities,” said Gabe Butzke, a spokesperson for Michigan Forward Network. “Out-of-touch Democrats who have no interest in saving people money have been quick to attack Republicans who are trying to make Michigan more affordable because they have no plan of their own to help Michiganders.”