This week in the notebook:
- State forgives QLINE loan
- Who is being overtaxed?
- A.B. Ford Park renovations
- More trees for Detroit parks
Welcome back to the notebook. I’m still Malachi Barrett.
A new study suggesting Detroit is overtaxing residents in the city’s lowest-valued homes added heat to an ongoing debate over the City Council’s role in the assessment process.
The University of Chicago studied 3,452 residential property sales occurring between last April and March 14. It found 65% of homes sold for under $34,700 were overassessed at an illegally high rate.
Two “emergency” resolutions were added to Tuesday’s agenda and approved in response.
The council called on the assessor’s office to shave 30% off the assessed value of low-value homes (between $3,400 and $34,700 in fair market value).
The council also urged Wayne County Treasurer Eric Sabree to block tax foreclosures of all owner-occupied Detroit homes with the same value.
Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Assessor Alvin Horhn said it’s not possible to reduce the value of homes as requested. The deadline to appeal assessments with the Board of Review passed on March 11.
The resolutions were meant to “correct systemic over-assessments” identified by the University of Chicago study. Horhn strongly rejected the study’s conclusion.
“There is not – there is not – there is not a systemic problem with assessments in this city,” Horhn said, repeating the point for emphasis.
Horhn argued the sales analysis study doesn’t conform to Michigan law and isn’t a proper review of Detroit’s assessment practices.
Advocates who called into Tuesday’s council meeting are leaning on the study while waiting for an independent study that is past due.
The council passed an ordinance at the end of last year requiring a study of the assessment process by Feb. 1.
The study was meant to identify overassessed properties so the council could partner with homeowners to pursue appeals before March 11. Appeals were filed for 566 parcels out of 400,000 across the city, Horhn said.
Horhn said delays with the contracting process and a politicized climate surrounding assessments stalled the study. Detroit plans to hire the International Association of Assessing Officers.
“This has turned into a political hotbed and they are scared of getting their fingers burnt,” Horhn said. “This has become, unfortunately, a bit of a circus.”
Bernadette Atuahene, a founder of the Coalition for Property Tax Justice, said the failure to create a study on time is an “abuse of the process.”
“City Council has to stand up with the data we have,” Atuahene said.
Residents organized by the coalition expressed outrage over the study’s findings.
“Why do we keep this song and dance?” said Aleena Gaither. “You know the money has been stolen. You know people have been getting robbed. Just fix it.”
Horhn said there’s no question that Detroit homeowners were overtaxed following the Great Recession when the city failed to calculate accurately sinking home values.
Horhn said steps were taken in the last decade to fix the problem, but he understands why residents are skeptical.
“For most of us are holding the biggest asset we will ever have – any thought in government is doing something to take away from this should raise concerns,” Horhn said.
Overassessment has been a recurring issue during City Council meetings (and therefore this newsletter).
It was even referenced in the opening prayer from Charles Edward Williams II, pastor of Historic King Solomon Baptist Church.
What page are we on?
Today’s notebook describes the March 26 formal session.
Dig into the agenda, read Detroit Documenter notes or watch the recording for more details.
Show me the money: BridgeDetroit is collaborating with Outlier Media and the Detroit Documenters to bring you unprecedented coverage of city budget hearings. Newsletter subscribers will receive a weekly update on Monday morning.
I joined “The Metro” on WDET this week to share what we’ve learned so far.
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Eastside park renovation moves ahead
The second phase of renovations to A.B. Ford Park is moving forward amid concerns from east-side residents.
The council approved a $9.5 million contract with the Detroit Building Authority for landscape services, environmental consulting and community outreach.
The 34-acre park will remain closed until construction concludes next spring.
The project will bring three to five trucks per hour through the Jefferson-Chalmers neighborhood for seven months during the construction.
Detroit Chief Operating Officer Brad Dick said weekly Zoom calls and a monthly in-person meeting will be held to keep residents updated. Fact sheets posted online provide an outline of commonly asked questions.
High levels of contamination were found in soil samples taken in 2022 and 2023. The city plans to install a clay and soil cap that traps contamination but will damage trees.
Most of the 251 trees were in poor condition, said Dick. They will be removed and replaced with 600 trees.
Other improvements include creating a 5.5-acre bird meadow habitat, concrete walkways, two pickleball courts, a tennis court, outdoor shelters, lighting improvements, a resurfaced parking lot and a connection to the Detroit Riverwalk.
Council Member Latisha Johnson said residents have voiced concerns about polluted soil.
She said recent meetings with the Jefferson-Chalmers neighborhood are helping to keep residents informed.
250 trees coming to Detroit parks
The Greening of Detroit is donating 250 trees for various parks across the city.
Detroit regularly partners with the nonprofit to plant new trees. The latest donation is valued at $200,000. It brings shade and ornamental trees to the following parks:
- Jayne Field, (40 trees), 13280 Conant
- Wish-Egan Park, (40 trees), 19800 Schoenherr
- Marruso Park, (75 trees), 19908 Annott Ave.
- Collins Park, (20 trees), 11618 Alpena Ave.
- Cross Park, (10 trees), 8134 Manor
- Civic Park, (25 trees), 8051 Littlefield St.
- Skinner Playfield (40 trees), 12800 Kelly Rd
QLINE debt forgiven
A taxpayer-funded loan that helped pay for construction of the QLINE was forgiven by the state.
The Michigan Strategic Fund Board approved a $10 million loan in 2014 for the QLINE. The remaining $3.5 million was waived by the same board on Tuesday, in exchange for advertising opportunities.
Static video ads at 20 stations and promotional wraps are planned for the street cars. The advertising value is estimated at $4.8 million.
M-1 RAIL was created as a nonprofit organization to manage the street car system. It is ineligible to receive government funding that sustains other kinds of public transit systems.
The MSF Board argued that the QLINE needs a balanced budget before being donated to the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan.
Detroit honors transgender advocate
Liliana-Angel Reyes was given a Spirit of Detroit award for her dedication to advancing transgender rights and visibility in Detroit.
Council Member Gabriela Santiago-Romero presented Reyes with the honor and thanked her for creating a more inclusive environment in the city.
Reyes is executive director of Trans Sistas of Color Project, and works with other LGBTQ community organizations like the Ruth Ellis Center. Santiago-Romero said she helped start a state HIV data program.
Reyes has also been active in Lansing, advocating for legislation expanding civil rights laws, improving healthcare access and making it easier for transgender residents to legally change their names.