Michigan Compiled Laws, Chapter 324. Natural Resources and Environmental Protection § 324.50147

Sec. 50147. (1) A district may make annual incentive payments to members to cover forest practice costs only, but not to cover ad valorem property taxes or the member's share of commercial forest act taxes levied pursuant to part 511.  1 This payment is made in anticipation of future timber receipts, and the total principal and interest obligation shall not exceed 90% of the future expected market value of the timber as estimated in the management plan. Income received from the sale of timber covered by this agreement between the district and a member shall be applied to the outstanding obligation.

(2) An annual incentive payment made under this section may be made for a term of not more than 40 years and shall bear interest at the average annual rate being earned by the state on money deposited in the investment account of the general fund of this state. An annual payment shall not exceed $50,000.00 to any 1 member. A payment shall be secured by a mortgage or deed of trust upon the parcel of land or timber, or both, upon which the payment was based. The board shall record the mortgage or deed of trust in the office of the register of deeds in each county in which the real property subject to the loan is located.

(3) A voluntary withdrawal of a member within a district will require full repayment of the obligation plus interest at the current commercial rate.

(4) The board may release a member's obligation to repay all or part of the principal and interest due under payments made under this section if the board finds that the parcel of land or the timber rights on the parcel of land securing the payment and upon which the forest practices were conducted have been substantially damaged by fire, flood, insects, disease, or other natural causes and the damage was not caused by the negligence or willful act of the member.