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Wayne
County
Treasurer's
Office
works
hard to
reduce
Foreclosures
Since my
election
as Wayne
County
Treasurer
nearly
one year
ago we
have
taken
aggressive
steps to
prevent
foreclosures
in Wayne
County.
Contrary
to some
recent
media
reports
reflecting
special
interests,
there's
simply
no
incentive
to
foreclose
on
homeowners
anywhere
in Wayne
County.
The
assertion
we are
counting
on
foreclosures
to
balance
the
county
budget
is
absurd.
We are
doing
everything
we can
to
reduce
foreclosures,
help
people
get into
payment
plans
and
obtain
the
financial
aid and
advice
they
need to
be
productive
homeowners
in our
greater
community.
Without
question,
the
foreclosure
issue is
a major
one in
Wayne
County
and may
well be
unprecedented
anywhere
in the
nation.
Wayne
County
and its
largest
city,
Detroit
was
impacted
by the
Great
Recession
and
subsequent
largest
municipal
bankruptcy
in U.S.
History
– all
following
decades
of
decline
in
population
due to
evaporating
jobs in
the
automotive
and
related
industries
and
globalization.
No other
region
has been
affected
by
similar
economic
shock
waves. I
cite
these
issues
to
provide
context
to the
challenging
dilemma
of the
continuing
foreclosure
problem.
From my
perspective,
we have
a firm
grasp on
the
challenge
and can
demonstrate
great
progress
in
foreclosure
reductions.
We are
optimistic
that the
worst is
behind
us.
Let’s
look at
just the
past few
years:
· In
2015,
some
28,000
properties
were
auctioned
due to
foreclosures.
· In
2016, we
were
able to
reduce
the
number
of
foreclosures
to
13,900.
We are
working
to
reduce
the
number
of
properties
in the
auction
in the
fall of
2017.
The
office
of the
Wayne
County
Treasurer
has less
than
10,000
properties
scheduled
to be
auctioned.
·
Conducted
an
unprecedented
outreach
campaign
using
paid and
earned
media to
educate
people
on
options
to
prevent
foreclosures.
·
Supported
and
attained
new
legislation
for the
Interest
Rate
Reduction
program
allowing
homeowners
to
reduce
their
interest
rates on
delinquent
taxes
for 18%
to 6%.
·
Enrolled
thousands
of
homeowners
in
monthly
payment
plans.
· Joined
a kiosk
network
to allow
people
to make
payments
in their
neighborhoods
in a
safe,
convenient
manner
with no
“convenience
fees.”
(This
has
increased
collections,
reduced
overhead
and
stabilized
payment
programs).
·
Engaged
homeowners
in
Taxpayer
Saturdays
and Talk
with the
Treasurer
sessions
throughout
Wayne
County
to
educate
residents
on all
of the
options
and
resources
available
to help
them
stay in
their
homes.
·
Cooperated
with the
State of
Michigan
and
Federal
Government
in the
Step
Forward
program
to bring
additional
resources
to help.
·
Commissioned
a door
knocking
campaign
for over
6,200
properties
in
Detroit.
Securing
and
boarding
up
unoccupied
structures
that are
open to
trespass
and pose
a safety
hazard.
One of
the root
causes
of
property
tax
foreclosure
is
poverty,
which is
compounded
by a
lack of
education,
job
training
and
employment
opportunities.
Our
office
will
continue
to
fulfill
our
statutory
duties
and
collect
taxes
and
enforce
the law
while
doing
everything
possible
to help
people
stay in
their
homes.
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