Charlie Langton: Detroit Councilwoman Says 'Maybe We Have To Sue' State

DETROIT (Talk Radio 1270) As the state and city scramble to put Detroit's financial house in order, word came Tuesday that a super-advisory board may be created to appoint a chief financial officer, chief operating officer and human resources manager to oversee Detroit.

The trio would report to the mayor, per the proposal from the state.

Within a year, they would have to produce a plan to eliminate or consolidate many Detroit departments, including the Water Department, IT, DPW, and Human Resources, to address the budget deficit.

It's a step shy of an emergency manager, but it still had Detroit Councilwoman Saunteel Jenkins fuming mad on Charlie Langton's 1270 Talk Radio morning show.

"There is nothing in here that talks about the state providing any kind of funds to help get us out of ... It's taking, everything points to what the state is taking," Jenkins said.

She later added: "I'm concerned about the future of the city. I'll be fine. My concern is not me, it's more the 700,000 people who live in Detroit, who are losing their democratic right to elect their public officials...All of the powers are taken away. that's my concern, the democratic process and the future of the city of Detroit.

"We have worked to rectify many of the problems, we can't pretend the state isn't part of our problem."

Jenkins added that the city may sue over it.

Shared revenue from the state has dropped the last 10 years from $360 million to $140 million, she said, adding that Detroit at one point agreed to lower its tax rate to join the state's revenue sharing program. And since then revenue sharing has only dropped.

"That may be our only option, we were trying to work with the state vs. suing them to come up with some solutions ... Maybe we have to sue," Jenkins said.

She added that this is a thinly veiled emergency manager appointment, with the state trying to pretend it's not.

"There is a consent agreement," Jenkins said. "It's basically an emergency manager... In actuality, they're reporting to the so-called advisory board, which is not advisory at all."

Where would it place City Council?

"Council's role is pretty much eliminated," Jenkins said. "Council is pretty much rendered neutral."

The advisory board could choose not to re-negotiate union contracts, which expire in June and July, Jenkins said.

"This seems like a pretty big overstepping of state power," caller Mark said, before adding it's unfortunately necessary: "With the amount of corruption that Detroit is famous for...We're getting laughed at by the rest of the country."

"This City Council has never been accused of any type of corruption, we've been very responsible for the last two years," Jenkins responded. "We've been much more fiscally responsible."

The consent agreement has to be approved by the mayor and city council.

"I say if all of these democratic rights are taken away anyway, it is a financial manager," Jenkins said.