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Economists back research that found one-third of Detroitâs residential properties are being assessed at more than 50% of the homeâs value.
Correction: This story has been updated from a previous version to say the study was authored by Christopher Berry. The economists’ analysis of Berry’s study has also been clarified.
Housing analysts say Detroit is still overtaxing its lowest-valued homes and the assessment disparity has widened in recent years; since re-appraising all of its homes in 2017, Detroit’s lowest-valued homes are still being assessed at four times the rate as highest-valued homes.
Researchers with the Center for Municipal Finance at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy say one-third of Detroit’s residential properties are being assessed at more than 50% of the home’s value, which is above Michigan’s legal threshold. The Duggan administration has challenged that study. But Dr. Andrew Hayashi with the University of Virginia Law School says he and other economists believe the study by professor Christopher Berry checks out. The economists peer reviewed his data, replicated the results and came to the same conclusion.