Could we lower the city of Detroit's property tax rates - they are among the highest in the nation - while not gutting services?

This would be a benefit for long-time Detroit residents who face very high property tax burdens and might be a longer term fix than the one-time forgiveness provided through a charitable program from Dan Gilbert's foundation.

Also, it could stimulate more individual investment to make the city make more fiscal sense and help attract back the middle class, which Detroit has mostly lost. It's also something that wouldn't go first to billionaire and millionaire developers that live outside the city, but residents who live in their homes. 

To talk about this idea is Stephen J.K. Walters. He's the author of a piece in City Journal, journal.org/detroit-racial-wealth-gap-property-tax-policy"> "Detroit's Black Wealth Tax: To help close the racial wealth gap, slash Detroit’s confiscatory property tax rate." 

Also, a bit of housekeeping. The Detroit City Council and mayoral races are heating up. A number of incumbents, including Andre Spivey, Raquel Castenda-Lopez, Brenda Jones and Gabe Leland aren't running, setting the table for the most change in city government in years. If you have questions you'd like asked of candidates or are a candidate running for office, email us - dailydetroit@gmail.com

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