It's counterintuitive, but in Detroit, the hope is that by lowering property taxes, the city might actually collect more in property taxes.
"Detroit's multiyear effort to update property tax assessments so that they more accurately reflect market values is coming to a close," reports Matt Helms, "with the city poised for another round of lower rates for some neighborhoods and increases in others."
The city reappraised 255,000 residential properties, for the first citywide reappraisal process in decades, according to Helms. In the meantime, homeowners were stuck with "property tax bills far exceeding market values as the city's population declined and blight engulfed neighborhoods at alarming rates."
Mayor Mike Duggan has stated that by reducing property taxes, the city might actually collect more property taxes "because people are more willing to pay taxes based on realistic valuations."
FULL STORY: Detroit finalizes fix of city property tax assessments
Proposed Land Value Tax Plan in Detroit
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan proposes hiking property taxes for vacant land and buildings while lowering the rate for occupied homes and businesses in a split tax plan he contends will resolve many of Detroit's blight and high property tax woes.
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The city of Detroit said it would halt a demolition program after a report revealed the amount of lead released by demolitions into the environment, risking the health of children and other local residents.
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Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
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Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
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