Stuff a Police Car

A big THANK YOU to all area residents who helped make the annual Stuff A Police Car event a huge success. Police and firefighters collected nearly 1300 pounds of food and over $200 in cash which has been donated to the Redeemer Food Pantry of Clinton County located in DeWitt Township. This donation will help keep their food supplies stocked and available for those in need.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program

Beginning February 2nd and continuing through April 6th, the AARP Foundation will provide free tax assistance and preparation through its Tax-Aide program here in DeWitt Township. AARP Foundation is the nation’s largest free tax assistance and preparation service, serving more than 50 million taxpayers since its inception. The Tax-Aide program is available to anyone, with a special focus on taxpayers who are over 50 or have low to moderate income.

DeWitt Township is pleased provide the office space and to participate as appointment schedulers for this Tax-Aide Program. Beginning January 3rd, you can call DeWitt Township at 517-668-0270 to make your required appointment. Some tax returns are outside the scope of the Tax-Aide program. If you have rental property, farmland, run a small business, receive a Schedule K-1, or have multiple transactions on an investment account, Tax-Aide may not be able to assist you with filing your tax return. For those tax situations, it is best to contact an alternative tax service.

Holiday Winter Saftey

Winter holidays are a time for families and friends to get together. That also means a potential greater risk for fire. Following a few simple tips will ensure a happy and fire-safe holiday season.

Holiday Decorating

Be careful with holiday decorations. Choose decorations that are flame resistant or flame retardant.
Keep lit candles away from decorations and other things that can burn.
Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both.
Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Read manufacturer’s instructions for number of light strands to connect.
Use clips, not nails, to hang lights so the cords do not get damaged.
Keep decorations away from windows and doors.

Holiday Entertaining

Test your smoke alarms and tell guests about your home fire escape plan.
Keep children and pets away from lit candles.
Keep matches and lighters up high in a locked cabinet.
Stay in the kitchen when cooking on the stovetop.
Ask smokers to smoke outside. Remind smokers to keep their smoking materials with them so young children do not touch them.
Provide large, deep ashtrays for smokers. Wet cigarette butts with water before discarding.

Before Heading Out or to Bed

Blow out lit candles when you leave the room or go to bed. Turn off all light strings and decorations before leaving home or going to bed.

More than one-third of home decoration fires are started by candles.
More than two of every five decoration fires happen because decorations are placed too close to a heat source.

DeWitt Township Police Raise Money

The DeWitt Township Police and the Township Manager participated in “No Shave November” raising money for a local charity. Participating in the event were L-R Chief Mike Gute, Manager Andrew Dymczyk, Lieutenant Jason Jones, Officer Jacob Minott, Sergeant Dominic Johnson, Officer Kyle Kolka and Detective Derreck Schaberg. Also participating, but missing from the photo are Officer Brandon Shellberg, Officer Trevin Bernat and Officer Ethan Rennaker.

Winter Property Tax Bills

Real and personal property tax bills were sent to property owners on December 1, 2021. Residents who hold escrow accounts with a mortgage company did not receive a tax form as the bills are submitted directly to the mortgage servicing providers. Property owners can view property tax bill data and history online at dewitttownship.org. Failure to receive a tax bill does not relieve the responsibility for payment, nor constitutes cause for cancellation of penalty or interest if the tax becomes delinquent.

All taxes, both real and personal, are due February 14, 2022. A one-time penalty of 3% is applied to outstanding balances on February 15, 2022.

February 28, 2022 is the last day tax payments can be accepted in the Treasurer’s Office. Outstanding real property taxes are turned over to the Clinton County Treasurer for collection on March 1, 2022.

Winter vs. Summer Taxes

Winter property taxes vs. summer property taxes; are there really two separate tax seasons? No, not really. Both tax bills cover the entire year (January 1 – December 31) and the taxes owed are divided into two separate payments: a summer payment and a winter payment. State education taxes are collected in the summer, while other government taxing units default to the winter collection. Local school boards choose to collect either on the summer or winter bill--or split their millages 50/50 on both bills. That is why even if property is sold mid-year, both parties to the transaction will pay the summer and winter bills based on the number of days each party owned the parcel.

For a breakdown of the millages billed each tax season, visit the Treasurer’s Office webpage at dewitttownship.org.

Important Upcoming Dates

12/30 - Township offices closed in observance of New Year's Eve
12/31 - Township offices closed in observance of New Year's Day
01/10 - ACH Autopay processed for enrolled sewer accounts
01/17 - Township offices closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr holiday
01/18 - Quarterly sewer bills due
02/14 - Winter real and personal property tax bills due
02/28 - Last day to pay 2021 property taxes to Treasurer's Office
03/01 - Delinquent 2021 property taxes turned over to Clinton County Treasurer