Wayne County treasurer to hold tax foreclosure hearings

DETROIT (AP) - Hearings are scheduled for thousands of Wayne County property owners facing foreclosure due to unpaid taxes.

The state-mandated hearings to show cause will be held Thursday and Friday at Cobo Center in downtown Detroit and again from Monday through Feb. 6.

About 76,000 Wayne County properties are in foreclosure, including 62,000 in Detroit.

Gov. Rick Snyder signed a bill this month that allows homeowners facing financial hardship to use a payment plan to meet tax responsibilities and avoid foreclosure. Snyder says the law aims to help reduce Wayne County's foreclosure rate.

"With the passage of recent state legislation, this is the first time we are able to actually reduce interest and in some cases even reduce taxes on owner-occupied properties," said David Szymanski, chief deputy treasurer. "Taxpayers should not delay; come see us."

The treasurer's office is preparing for as many as 21,000 property owners owing taxes from 2012 through 2014 to show up at the hearings. Staffers will review each situation, make payment arrangements and discuss assistance options.

Several Detroit neighborhoods were devastated during the national mortgage crisis as thousands of people lost their homes. Many of the houses eventually became blighted.

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Online link:

http://www.waynecounty.com/treasurer