City, County Encourage Detroit Homeowners Struggling with Property Taxes to Enroll in Pay As You Stay Program

Mayor Mike Duggan and Wayne County Treasurer Eric Sabree today encouraged Detroit homeowners to take advantage of the Pay As You Stay (PAYS) program that eliminates fees and interest for delinquent property taxes and provides an affordable payment plan. More than 4000 letters were mailed recently to Detroit homeowners eligible for PAYS.

The two officials were joined by Derrick Kennedy at the Mayor’s daily briefing May 4. Kennedy encouraged others to take advantage of the program and said he reduced his delinquent property taxes from $11,000 to $600 through PAYS. 

Here’s how PAYS works:

• First, homeowners must apply for the Homeowners Property Tax Assistance Program (HPTAP), which exempts individuals from a portion of their property taxes based on household income.
  
  
• Once homeowners are approved for the property tax exemption, they will receive a letter from the Wayne County Treasurer's Office to enroll in PAYS. 

HPTAP and PAYS work together to keep eligible Detroiters in their homes. Previous deadlines for HPTAP have been eliminated. The final 2020 deadline is December 14.

Residents struggling with property taxes can apply for the HPTAP online at detroitmi.gov/pays, or request a form by calling 313-224-3035 or emailing BoardofReview@detroitmi.gov.

Mayor Mike Duggan is joined (left to right) by Denise Fair, City's Chief Public Health Officer; Eric Sabree, Wayne County Treasurer; and Derrick Kennedy, a Detroit resident enrolled in the PAYS Program, at his daily COVID-19 briefing May 4.

Approximately 400 City of Detroit employees returned to work today cutting grass at parks, doing street repairs and cleaning up illegal dump sites under the City of Detroit COVID-19 safety protocols.  The Mayor made the announcement at his daily briefing May 4.

As a result of the initial testing of employees, 20 returning General Services Department employees tested positive but had no symptoms.  Another 10 returning Department of Public Works (DPW) employees tested positive.  All 30 employees will be quarantined and then retested.  More City employees will return to work in the coming weeks following the same protocols.

Contractors, who also are following the City’s safety protocols, are being tested this week, the Mayor said.

The City’s safety protocols call for:

• Initial test of each City employee for COVID-19
• Daily employee temperature check, health screening and monitoring
• Workplace distancing and hygiene protocols
• Mandatory use of masks and other necessary personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Thorough and frequent cleaning of worksites and vehicles
• Continuous adequate stockpile of necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) and sanitizing supplies

The document can be found at detroitmi.gov.

Roughly 400 City of Detroit employees, including 200 Department of Public Works (DPW) employees, returned to work today under the COVID-19 safety protocols. 

Appointments Still Needed for Testing at State Fairgrounds, City Offers Detroiters Access to Doctors and $2 Rides

Free testing is still available for Detroiters with COVID-19 symptoms and essential workers at the State Fairgrounds.

Detroiters with COVID-19 Symptoms
Detroiters with symptoms can be tested even if they don’t have a primary care physician, health insurance, or a car.

Detroit physician offices are accepting new patients for Detroiters without insurance or a primary care physician. Once a person has a doctor’s prescription and appointment time, they can get a ride for $2 to the State Fairgrounds in a safe, sanitary vehicle through IntelliRide.

Essential Workers
Essential workers (grocery store and pharmacy employees, food handlers, mail carriers, etc.) can get tested for free.

Business owners providing essential services can call (313) 230-0505, register their company and receive an access code. Their employees then should call (313) 230-0505 anytime between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday – Sunday and provide the code to schedule a test.  These employees will not need a doctor’s prescription for the test, and do not have to be experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

The free testing will continue at the Fairgrounds with roughly 1000 tests being administered daily.

For more information on how to get an appointment for COVID-19 testing at the State Fairgrounds, go to detroitmi.gov/coronavirus.

Violators of the Governor’s executive orders to stay home, practice physical distancing and avoid public gatherings
could be fined up to $1000.

Health Department Hotline

• A healthcare provider with a possible COVID-19 positive patient
• An individual who suspects they have COVID-19

• U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) at https://www.cdc.gov/
• State of Michigan at http://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus

Meals Available for Detroit Families and Seniors
For information on locations, go to detroitmi.gov/food.

Need Your Water Turned On?
During the COVID-19 outbreak, Detroiters living in households with no water service can sign up for the Water Restart Plan to restore service and keep their water flowing for only $25 per month. Thousands are already participating: sign up here!

Income Tax Deadline now July 15
The City of Detroit has pushed back the deadline for residents and non residents who must file City income taxes to July 15.