COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility List Expands

The City of Detroit expanded its eligibility list for COVID-19 vaccines to include: residents age 68 or older; active members of the clergy who live or work in Detroit and their ministry involves face-to-face contact with members; and funeral home and mortuary services employees who live or work in Detroit. Mayor Mike Duggan provided a vaccine update at a news briefing January 21.

The complete eligibility list is:

• Detroiters aged 68 or older
• Anyone 65 or older who drives someone 68 or older
• K-12 teachers and employees & childcare workers
• U.S. Post Office employees who live or work in Detroit
• Employees of the City of Detroit or City-related agencies working from their regular job site
• Federal and state law enforcement officials who live or work in Detroit
• Active clergy members who live or work in Detroit and ministry includes face-to-face contact with members
• Funeral home and mortuary workers who live or work in Detroit

Eligible residents can call (313) 230-0505 between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday-Friday to make an appointment.

For more information regarding COVID vaccinations, go to detroitmi.gov

City Provides Language Support

The City also has a toll-free number to provide language support in Spanish, Arabic or Bengali. The number is (855) 393-4432.

In addition, sign language interpreters will be on hand at the TCF Center for those with hearing disabilities.

Public Dashboard Unveiled

As of Jan. 20, the City has received 10,850 vaccine doses and administered 82.6% or them, or 8.959.  Daily updated numbers are now available on a public dashboard accessible at www.detroitmi.gov.

Detroit residential assessments expected to increase 8% in 2021

Residential property assessments in Detroit are projected to increase by more than eight percent (on average) in 2021, based on the most recent analysis of property values across the city.  The numbers, based on two years of actual market sales, mark the fourth consecutive year of growth across the city. Mayor Mike Duggan and Detroit Assessor Alvin Horhn presented the information at a news briefing January 21.

However, while property values in the city have increased steadily, homeowners are protected against large property tax increases. Under state law, the annual increase in property taxes is capped this year at 2%, as long as ownership has not changed.

This week, S&P Global Ratings also announced that it had moved the City from a negative to a stable outlook based in part on the success of the City’s neighborhood revitalization strategy.

Huge shift from 2014-2020

When Detroit was in bankruptcy in 2014, the residential values were in a tailspin and had lost an estimated $3 billion in value in the great recession, according to City officials. The City of Detroit cut residential assessments by 20% in early 2014 and cut them further in 2015.

To determine this year’s assessment, the City examined two years of actual market sales, which included 62,355 transfers of all types, including market sales, quit claim deeds, and land contracts. The Office of the Assessor reviews aerial and street level imagery of properties to determine property characteristics as part of the valuation process.    

Here is a breakdown of this year’s assessed residential value changes across the city’s 194 neighborhoods:

• 7 out of 194 neighborhoods (4%) had an increase in value over 15%
• 53 out of 194 neighborhoods (27%) had an increase in value ranging from 10% to 15%
• 111 out of 194 neighborhoods (57%) had an increase in value ranging from 5% to 10%
• 18 out of 194 neighborhoods (9%) had an increase in value ranging from 1 to 5%
• 5 out of 194 neighborhoods (3%) had a decrease in value in the range of (2.51%) to (6.89%)

Proposed assessment notices being mailed

Notices will be mailed beginning January 25 to 399,091 residential, commercial, industrial, and personal property owners, advising them of proposed assessments for 2021. These are not tax bills. Actual bills will be mailed out at the end of June and November.

Deadline for assessment appeals extended

Under State law, property owners have the right to appeal the proposed changes. Residents will have three weeks to appeal all assessments from February 1-22 including Saturdays.

The March Board of Review, the second step in the review process, is March 2-25 in Room 1208, Coleman A. Young Municipal Center.  Anyone with questions or wishing to challenge their assessments can email the Assessor’s office at Assessorreview@Detroitmi.gov.

For more information on property values and assessments, go to detroitmi.gov.