Under Part 307, Inland Lakes, of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, the property owners of parcels in a special assessment district may finance the costs associated with maintaining the legal levels of a lake. While there can be other funding sources such as grants, the government and private donors, the special assessment district is the primary source of funding to maintain the lake level.
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The special assessment districts will contain privately owned parcels of land, subdivisions, and state and locally owned land around and near the bodies of water.
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Waterfront lots
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Backlots with dedicated or deeded access
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Residential lots
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Condos and apartments
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Hotels
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Cabins
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Mobile homes
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Campgrounds
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Commercial lots
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Department of Natural Resources (DNR) land
Special Assessment
May Fund Cost to Maintain Legal Lake Level
Once special assessment district boundaries are confirmed by the circuit court, the county may determine that the whole or a part of the cost of a project to establish and maintain the legal level for a lake shall be defrayed by special assessments against the parcels in the district.
Assessments are Based on Benefit
Once the special assessment district boundaries are established, the county will develop a special assessment methodology that determines how much each property owner pays for their parcel(s) based on how the parcel(s) benefits from the lake level (i.e., a waterfront parcel likely has a greater benefit than a backlot). The methodology must be approved at a public hearing and by the county board of commissioners.
The Property Owner's Role
State law does not give the public the ability to vote on the establishment of a lake level special assessment district or lake level assessments, however there are many opportunities for public input and property owners have a right to appeal their assessment in court.