DETROIT, MI – Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield used her first State of the City address Tuesday, March 31, to outline a plan to make the city more affordable and attract new residents.
Speaking at Mumford High School, Detroit’s first female mayor said her administration has focused on lowering the cost of living and investing in families, while outlining a longer-term strategy to grow the city’s population.
“The state of Detroit is rising higher,” Sheffield said.
Sheffield also said her administration is exploring ways to cut Detroit’s property taxes by 30% to 60% to make the city more competitive with surrounding suburbs, though she acknowledged doing so would require identifying new sources of revenue.
“These are tough conversations, but we have to get it done,” she said.
Detroit has some of the highest property tax rates in the region, a longstanding concern among residents and business owners.
As part of a broader effort to lower costs and attract residents, Sheffield also announced a new “Move Detroit” incentive program that offers up to $15,000 toward a home purchase and a $1,000 relocation bonus for people moving into the city.
The program is designed to retain current residents and attract new and returning Detroiters.
Sheffield reiterated a previously announced policy that all full-time city employees will earn at least $21.45 per hour, or about $44,600 annually, starting in July.
“Detroiters who put in a full day’s work should not have to work two or three jobs just to meet their most basic needs,” she said.
Housing remained a big focus throughout the speech.
The mayor highlighted the return of the Detroit Housing for the Future Fund, a financing tool backed by public and private partners that previously invested over $58 million and helped create nearly 1,000 affordable housing units.
“As our city grows, we must ensure longtime residents and working families can continue to live and thrive here,” Sheffield said.
The administration is also directing more revenue into the city’s affordable housing trust fund and pursuing faster permitting and preapproved home designs to speed up construction.
Sheffield set a goal of building 1,000 single-family homes over the next four years.
Not everyone welcomed the mayor’s agenda without concerns.
“Mayor Sheffield has an opportunity to lead in a new era by confronting Detroit’s housing and economic challenges head-on,” said Scott Holiday, executive director of Detroit Action.
He said residents continue to face housing instability and rising costs, arguing the city must prioritize long-term affordability over market-rate development.
“We deserve thriving neighborhoods, not just a thriving downtown,” he said.
He also called for broader wage increases beyond city employees and urged the administration to invest more in housing stability programs, including legal support for tenants facing eviction.
Programs aimed at families and children were another key part of the address.
The city’s Rx Kids program, which provides direct cash assistance to new and expecting mothers, has enrolled 1,200 participants and distributed more than $1.6 million so far.
The administration is also rolling out new efforts aimed at children and students.
Starting April 1, all public, charter and private K-12 students in Detroit will be able to ride city buses for free.
“For many students, the obstacle isn’t motivation, it’s getting there,” the city said in a release sent after the speech describing the program.
Sheffield also pointed to investments in neighborhood infrastructure and services, including $8 million to address thousands of outstanding sidewalk repairs and a plan to install 3,000 new streetlights in residential areas.
The mayor said her administration is focused on ensuring growth reaches beyond downtown and into neighborhoods across the city.
“We don’t have to pick winners or losers. Every neighborhood deserves investment,” she said.
Sheffield’s proposed $3 billion budget includes funding for transit improvements, workforce development and small business support, along with continued investments in neighborhood programs.
Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield unveils affordability, growth plan in State of the City
