DETROIT — Detroit City Council members are expected to reach a decision today during its Formal Session on whether a $250 million bond proposal will be placed on the ballot during the March 2020 primary election. The bond would allow the city of Detroit to assume responsibility for funding the city’s blight removal and demolition program after funding from state and federal resources are depleted. Numerous concerns have been voiced about moving forward with the proposal, especially following an Auditor General report released last week that outlined problems with the demolition program. In response, state Rep. Sherry Gay-Dagnogo (D-Detroit) issued the following statement:
“I strongly urge Detroit City Council members to conduct an economic impact study on the tax obligations Detroit residents already have before they explore approving an additional $250 million bond proposal that would linger over our community members for the next three decades. Taxpayers are constantly being required to pay more taxes without any oversight. While millages and bonds have the potential to serve as effective ways to raise revenue for important and necessary programs and services, they cannot be effective when the blight removal program is already riddled with numerous failings, lack of transparency and accountability to our residents. With the pension bonds of the city’s Grand Bargain coming to term in 2024, it would be negligent of the council to not determine how additional bonds and millages will impact taxpayers. I will continue to fight for a solution that will be worthy of the contributions of our hardworking community members.”
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