Detroit to collect delinquent taxes and fees to generate revenue
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By Amy Lange Fox 2 News
DETROIT (WJBK) -- Detroit Mayor Dave Bing is working to help his city recover from a financial crisis and avoid a state takeover. The city says the collection agency is coming and no one is immune.
"If you owe the money, we expect you to pay the money or we're coming after you," Bing said Wednesday.
The mayor and his team are looking to generate revenue for the city mostly through collecting what's already owed.
"A lot of people feel that we haven't done anything, that we're just sitting around twiddling our thumbs, but we've already collected over $11 million," Bing explained.
They're doing it by collecting delinquent income taxes, permit fees for building and safety, environmental and fire inspections, parking tickets, delinquent lease payments at the airport, solid waste collection fees and Medicaid reimbursements the state owes the city, as well as asset sales like the Veteran's Memorial Building to the UAW.
In all, they're predicting this plan will generate $50 million for the struggling city, and they're hoping it will be even more.
The city will offer a tax amnesty program in January -- penalty abatements on delinquent income taxes -- and they say they will also eventually offer one for property taxes.
"It doesn't matter about the politics for me. If they owe it, they need to pay it," Bing said.
Like the Ilitches, who owe the city $1.5 million for Joe Louis Arena. Bing says the city is in negotiations with them and there will be other big names who will be asked to pay up.
"In reality, this is not a get tough stance on anybody. It's fairness and it's being correct, doing what we are supposed to do. That's what we're going to do," Bing told reporters.
Is it too little too late to stave off emergency management efforts underway in Lansing? Bing says he hasn't thrown in the towel.
"I think they will understand that I doubt if anybody else can come in here and do a better job than we," he remarked.
Friday, May 17 2013 8:43 PM EDT2013-05-18 00:43:34 GMT
Sabrina Gianino was found dead with a cord around her neck inside a Grosse Pointe Park home early Thursday morning. The medical examiner has ruled her death a homicide.
Sabrina Gianino was found dead with a cord around her neck inside a Grosse Pointe Park home early Thursday morning. The medical examiner has ruled her death a homicide.
Friday, May 17 2013 7:48 PM EDT2013-05-17 23:48:59 GMT
A Molotov cocktail was thrown through a kitchen window of a waterfront mansion on Whittier Street in Grosse Pointe Park around 3:20 a.m. Friday. Fortunately, someone inside put it out.
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Thursday, May 16 2013 9:37 PM EDT2013-05-17 01:37:11 GMT
Livonia firefighters had to break the windows of a ranch home on Oporto, trying to get to the homeowner. Once inside, they found the 60-year-old woman and her three dogs in a bedroom overcome by smoke.
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He is an aging war hero with an aging dog named Buddy that has been his faithful companion for 14 years. However, he can't care for him any longer, and his son says the last thing he wants to do is put the dog to sleep.
He is an aging war hero with an aging dog named Buddy that has been his faithful companion for 14 years. However, he can't care for him any longer, and his son says the last thing he wants to do is put the dog to sleep.
Wednesday, May 15 2013 8:05 PM EDT2013-05-16 00:05:25 GMT
Detroit has a new police chief. James Craig says he is coming home to cut crime in the streets and boost morale in the ranks. He was in town Wednesday.
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Sunday, May 19 2013 1:52 PM EDT2013-05-19 17:52:35 GMT
Authorities have identified a 20-year-old man they've arrested in the firebombing of the suburban Detroit home of an heir to the Art Van Furniture business.
Authorities have identified a 20-year-old man they've arrested in the firebombing of the suburban Detroit home of an heir to the Art Van Furniture business.
Let It Rip Weekend: Doggy Insurance, Pit Bull Bans & $15 Minimum Wage
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This time we're talking about a new requirement in Royal Oak that has some dog owners taking out $1 million insurance policies on their pooches. Plus, Waterford Township is considering repealing their
Should owners of dangerous dogs have to take out $1 million insurance policies? Are pit bull bans a good idea? Plus, should the minimum wage be raised to $15 an hour?
Sunday, May 19 2013 12:01 AM EDT2013-05-19 04:01:16 GMT
It was supposed to be their big night, but prom turned into a big headache for teens from a local high school. Police showed up to crack down on an unauthorized limo service.
It was supposed to be their big night, but prom turned into a big headache for teens from a local high school. Police showed up to crack down on an unauthorized limo service.
Friday, May 17 2013 11:55 PM EDT2013-05-18 03:55:04 GMT
"We intend to build cars in North America for [the] North American market, build cars in Europe for the European market and build them in Asia for the Asian market," said Don Graunstadt.
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It can creep up on you without you realizing it. One day you step on the scale and you're obese. That's what happened to a St. Clair Shores woman who never though she would lose the weight.
It can creep up on you without you realizing it. One day you step on the scale and you're obese. That's what happened to a St. Clair Shores woman who never though she would lose the weight.
