Hamtramck Employees Face Payless Pay Days

HAMTRAMCK (WWJ) - Hamtramck city employees are facing payless pay days. They've been notified they won't be getting paychecks on March 28 or April 11.

The workers may also miss one check a month through June.

"Our situation is similar to many other communities," said City Manager William Cooper. "Ultimately, dropping property values are having a serious effect on our cash flow."

Cooper said the city is trying to fix the situation as quickly as possibly.

"We have had conversations with the State. We are reviewing some options that are available to us," said Cooper. "We're trying to see if there's any way that we can raise the money, whether that be through loans or some other approach so that we can make our pay periods and not have to make our people wait."

Cooper said the closing of Detroit Axle and lower tax payments from General Motors Detroit-Hamtramck plant are also contributing to the money crunch.