Grand Funding Received:
In 2026, Eaton County received a $2,500,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy through the efforts of State Representative Angela Witwer and the Eaton County Controller’s Office. These grant funds were used directly towards the project’s construction expenses. For properties within the Bank Intercounty Drain Drainage District in both Eaton and Ingham Counties, this will ultimately result in a one-time reduction to the 2026 assessment to be included in your Winter Tax Bill. For properties where their special assessments for the Bank Intercounty Drain Project have already been paid in full, the landowner who paid off the special assessment will receive a partial refund.
Eaton County and the Drainage District will continue efforts to secure State and Federal grant funding that may further assist landowners with the cost of this project.
This notice explains how the reapportionment will be distributed. Depending on the status of your special assessment payments, you may receive either a refund or credit.
Parcels with Special Assessment Installments Remaining:
If a parcel’s special assessment for the project has not been fully paid, the parcel will receive a one-time credit. The credit will reduce the special assessment due on the 2026 Winter Tax Bill. Credit amounts are not equal and will be based on the benefit percentage assigned to the parcel (as was used when apportioning the cost of the project).
Parcels receiving a credit will be sent a future notice indicating the credit amount applied to the special assessment on your 2026 Winter Tax Bill.
Parcels with Special Assessment Paid in Full:
A one-time refund will be issued to the landowner who fully paid the special assessment for the Bank Intercounty Drain Project. If the property was transferred after the special assessment was paid in full, the refund will be issued to the prior landowner who made that payment—not to the current landowner. The amount of the one-time refund will be based on the benefit percentage assigned to the property that the refund relates to, as was used when apportioning the cost of the project.
Before a refund is issued, the recipient will receive another notice. This notice will provide the refund amount and list information required to process the refund. We anticipate refund checks to be issued before December 31, 2026.
Additional Information:
For additional information on the project, contact us. Please wait to inquire about credit or refund specifics until you receive a second notice.