In this morning's news...
UAW leaders say battle could lie ahead in contract negotiations After giving into concessions during the auto industrys restructuring, union leaders are saying they want some things restored. From the...
View ArticleGovernor Snyder rolls out plan to reform local government
Governor Rick Snyder has outlined a plan to withhold some state aid to local governments unless they make plans to consolidate services and make their finances more open. The governor says he wants to...
View ArticleIn this morning's news...
Winters not over yet Much of Michigan is under a winter storm warning as cold air and moisture head our way. The storm, which will bring snow, sleet, ice, and rain, is expected to start tonight around...
View ArticleLansing mayor proposes eliminating 200 city jobs
Lansing mayor Virg Bernero says hes presenting his 2012 fiscal year budget plan with a heavy heart. The city is facing a $20 million budget gap next year. Bernero says this requires a tough and painful...
View ArticleGun Lake Casino’s first payout to state, local governments top expectations
The state and several local governments are getting more than $2.5 million from Gun Lake Casino. Its the first revenue-sharing payment since the casino opened in February. More than $500,000 goes to...
View ArticleDoing "less with less" in Lansing
Lansing mayor Virg Bernero plans to tell the city council tonight how he plans to cut nearly five million dollars to balance the capital citys budget. That fact that Lansing is only facing about a five...
View ArticleLansing's financial health will be reviewed by panel appointed by the mayor
Lansing’s mayor has appointed a committee to take a hard look at the capital city’s financial health. The committee is made up of some of Lansing’s top business and civic leaders. Declining property...
View ArticleGov. Snyder wants boost in local revenue sharing
LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Local governments bore steep cuts in state revenue-sharing payments in the 2000s as sales tax collections lagged and lawmakers siphoned off money to deal with budget deficits.Now...
View ArticleFlint mayor says state lawmakers should boost revenue sharing
Flint’s mayor says his and other Michigan cities need more revenue sharing dollars from the state. Mayor Dayne Walling delivered Flint’s “State of the City” speech yesterday. Walling outlined a lot of...
View ArticleBeing broke makes Detroit get creative
Detroit's municipal bankruptcy has made the world aware of what Michigan already knew. Detroit is broke. No matter how it turns out, bankruptcy is not going to change things very quickly. Detroit will...
View ArticleFormer state treasurer blames "hostility" toward Michigan cities for...
Former Michigan Teasurer Robert Kleine added another layer to the debate about what caused the Flint water crisis. Decisions made by Flint’s emergency manager led to the water crisis, but Kleine says...
View ArticleGrand Rapids mayor: lower revenue sharing threatens success of cities, state
Local governments around the state have been trying to figure out how to keep things going on a tighter budget. They’re not bringing in as much money as they have during better economic times of the...
View ArticleLooking back on how state-supported suburban flight laid foundation for Flint...
What really caused the Flint water crisis ? The obvious and well-known answer is the April 2014 decision to start drawing the city's drinking water from the Flint River. That, in turn, caused corrosion...
View ArticleState funding squeeze could mean “ultimate financial disaster” for Michigan...
Michigan cities and towns are hurting for cash. Many have had to cut services like street and sidewalk repair. Some have had to reduce the size of their police and fire departments. The usual suspects...
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