Coalition for Property Tax Justice urges the mayor to adopt a 100‑day plan to fix over-assessments

Representatives of the Coalition for Property Tax Justice told the Detroit City Council that tens of thousands of homeowners have been over-assessed and that the city foreclosed on properties because of flawed assessments.

"The city of Detroit has foreclosed upon tens of thousands of homes illegally over assessed Detroiters, by more than $600,000,000," a coalition speaker said, asking the council and the new administration to adopt a "first 100 days" plan to correct the practices. The group outlined five pillars: replace the assessor with a qualified professional as required by state law; enforce the city's 2023 property tax reform ordinance; correct ECF and depreciation practices that over-assess lower-valued homes; protect owner-occupant exemptions; and return funds or refunds where over-assessments caused harm.

Council members heard the presentation but did not act on a policy change at the meeting. Members acknowledged the coalition's outreach to the Sheffield transition team and asked staff for written materials and legal analysis where appropriate.

What happens next: The coalition said it had delivered a road map and asked for the administration to incorporate substantive recommendations. Council members signaled interest in following up and in receiving the coalition's materials; staff did not announce immediate legislative next steps.

Because the claim of a $600 million over-assessment is an allegation by the coalition, council members did not adopt a remedy at the Feb. 3 session and referred the matter to staff and to further committee discussion.