Its official, a state of financial emergency has been declared by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder for Wayne County. Wayne County is the largest county in Michigan and comprises 34 cities, including Detroit. According to a statement released on the Wayne County Facebook page, “Our administration has been aware and fully transparent about the County’s financial challenges, which were clearly spelled out in our Recovery Plan and the letter to the Treasurer recommending a financial emergency be declared. Today’s determination by Governor Snyder confirms our findings that a financial emergency exists in Wayne County. We maintain the position that a consent agreement is the best option going forward. We will seek a Consent Agreement that respects the roles of the Wayne County Executive and Commission, and gives us the tools to focus our efforts on resolving the $52 million structural deficit.”
Next for the county will be a series of austerity and emergency action plans that include:
– A consent agreement with the state.
– An emergency manager.
– Mediation or neutral evaluation.
– Bankruptcy.
The people of Detroit have suffered through one of the worst economic conditions in its history. Hopefully, this new declaration will begin to provide relief for the city and its citizens.
