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Fiscal Policy Director Michael LaFaive tells The Detroit News today that the city of Detroit’s economic problems and population loss shouldn’t come as a surprise.
"Detroiters aren’t sheep lining up to be sheared,” he said. “When the tax burdens got too high, many fled to safer climes. Detroit has such a crushing property tax burden, it’s no coincidence the land value is so low."
The News reports that Detroit ranks first among the 50 largest cities in the country for taxes and last in property values. About half of the property owners in the city don’t pay their taxes.
“The big surprise is not that so few pay property taxes,” LaFaive added, “but why (so many) do.”
You can read more about LaFaive’s commentary on Detroit here.
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