Michigan Governor May Declare Detroit In “Fiscal Emergency”

Revelation 6:5,6 NCV When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a black horse, and its rider held a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard something that sounded like a voice coming from the middle of the four living creatures. The voice said, "A quart of wheat for a day's pay, and three quarts of barley for a day's pay, and do not damage the olive oil and wine!"

Detroit, the 18th largest city in the United States, is on the verge of being declared in a “fiscal emergency” by Michigan governor Rick Snyder.

Detroit Mayor Dave Bing said it seemed likely after talks with Snyder that the governor would declare the emergency and appoint an emergency manager for the city. The city is facing a $327 million budget deficit.

“Everybody’s got a pretty good idea of what [the Governor’s] announcement will be,” Bing told reporters.

If the governor makes the declaration, city officials would have 10 days to appeal the decision. If there is no appeal, the governor would then announce the emergency manager.

A manager would have the power to develop financial plans, cut budgets and reduce spending, sell city assets and even require renegotiation of labor contracts. Beyond the immediate budget crisis, the manager would have to put plans in place to cut the city’s long term debt of over $14 billion.

“Anybody who’s been following the numbers in Detroit knows that the numbers aren’t good and they’re not going to change dramatically any time soon,” Mayor Bing said. “There are things Lansing can do to help to get us out of this situation faster than we can do it by ourselves.”

The city government had previously failed to meet deadlines established through a consent deal with the state government in early 2012.

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