Wayne County Residents Have Options for Paying Property Taxes During COVID

Wayne County Treasurer Eric Sabree wants county residents to know his office is there to help anyone struggling to make property tax payments. In the nearly five years he has been treasurer, Sabree's office has successfully worked to reduce property tax foreclosures and provide options for residents to pay both current and delinquent tax bills. In fact, Sabree says about 85 percent of Detroit residents are getting their property taxes paid on time and avoiding foreclosure. On average, most foreclosed properties are located in the city of Detroit, with the city of Inkster following close behind.

Originally, about 10,000 Wayne County properties, including 3,200 occupied homes were intended to be foreclosed on and auctioned this year. Yet 2020 has been a different kind of year as far as foreclosures are concerned. When COVID-19 hit the state in March, the Wayne County Treasurer's Office (WCTO) had crowds of people in line on a daily basis wanting to get their taxes paid before the March 31 deadline. For the safety of all involved, Sabree realized large crowds were not a good idea. He announced the office would be suspending in-person operations and urged residents to pay taxes online, by mail or at one of the county's 70 payment kiosks. A day or two later, Governor Whitmer's statewide shut down order took effect.

Sabree says that typically about 70 percent of all property tax payments are received in person at the WCTO. With that avenue for payment closed, he decided there would be no foreclosure action in the county for the year. "I felt that because the office had closed abruptly, there was no way we could foreclose and really be fair to the people," he says. "A lot of people would have lost their property just because of the fact that they couldn't come down and talk to anyone."

The WCTO is currently operating by appointment only for anyone wanting to conduct their business in person. Staff is now limited and safety precautions are in place for visitors, who must wear a face mask while visiting. Sabree urges residents to utilize the WCTO website to conduct all business when possible rather than risking their health. Previously, residents were required to apply in person to receive a payment agreement, but due to COVID-19, applications for payment agreements can be filled out online

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In addition, due to COVID-19, the WCTO is now receiving personal checks for tax payments. Previously, personal checks were accepted only during the first year of delinquency and certified funds such as a money order or cashier's check, were the required method of payment after that. Sabree explains, "I don't want people having to go to the bank or post office to get certified funds when they can just write a check and send it in."

Programs which had been made available to residents are still in operation, including a variety of payment plans for homeowners/occupants and landlords. The Pay as You Stay (PAYS) Program, introduced last year, has the ability to lower the amount of delinquent taxes owed for lower income homeowners who qualify. Added stipulations to benefit veterans and first responders are available with these payment plans as well.

Sabree says his office is not overly worried about homeowners losing their property, but rather, landlords. "They're the ones I'm more concerned about this year than anyone else," he says. "Landlords are struggling because they can't collect rent, and they can't evict anybody that doesn't pay rent.

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Sabree says he and his staff are picking up on the stress levels being experienced by almost everyone over this past year which was full of job losses and uncertainty. The WCTO has on its website a link to the Detroit Financial Empowerment Center, which operates in cooperation with Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency, and offers county residents access to free financial counseling and help with money management.

If your property tax bill is causing you worry, the WCTO encourages you to reach out for help. "We're encouraging people to contact us right away, don't despair, don't give up," says Sabree. "Of any time ever, this is the time to keep people in their homes."

To contact the WCTO, go to http://www.waynecounty.com/elected/treasurer or [email protected]. You can also call 313-224-5990. To find what type of help is available through the Financial Empowerment Center, go to http://[email protected].