Cityscape

Whitmer urged to end home overtaxation in Detroit

January 12, 2021, 12:23 PM

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Tax-foreclosed homes in Detroit. (Photo: Violet Ikonomova)

A Wednesday virtual event featuring Rep. Rashida Tlaib will call on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to investigate and end what researchers say is the continued overtaxation of homes in Detroit.

A Detroit News investigation last year found the city overtaxed homeowners by a collective $600 million before officials completed a citywide property reappraisal in 2017, fueling a tax-foreclosure crisis that likely displaced tens of thousands of residents. But research conducted by Bernadette Atuahene, an academic who leads the Coalition for Property Tax Justice, has found the city continues to overassess lower-value homes.

The coalition last year filed a class action suit against the city, state and county, alleging officials failed to properly notify residents of their right to appeal their tax assessments in 2017. 

Detroit tax foreclosures were temporarily halted last year as a result of the pandemic.

Wednesday's event is put on by the group and kicks off the #blackhomesmatter campaign seeking to end "racialized property tax administration" throughout the country. It will also include remarks from leftist professor-philosopher Cornel West and a performance by the legendary gospel group the Clark Sisters.

More information is here.



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