Durhal said the community benefits ordinance (CBO) is too onerous for developers.

“Detroit’s CBO helps bring resources to neighborhoods as new developments rise,” he stated in response to Outlier Media’s candidate questionnaire. “To make it work, we must balance the needs of residents and developers, ensuring the ordinance delivers real benefits while keeping Detroit attractive to private investment and driving our city’s resurgence forward.”

“Speculators and negligent landowners are holding Detroit back. As mayor, I’ll deliver comprehensive tax reform — raising taxes on blight and lowering them for families and small businesses,” Durhal wrote. “My plan will unlock vacant land for safe, walkable neighborhoods with thriving main streets, all while balancing the budget and improving quality of life citywide.”

“Although making direct payments or reimbursements to overassessed residents is unconstitutional, I will create a Detroit Property Tax Relief Fund to develop a trust that would allow for reimbursement and/or tax rebates in some form,” Durhal wrote.

“Reimbursement will take legislative action in Lansing which my administration will make a priority to ensure residents who were overassessed are made whole.”