Detroit City Council Overrides Mayor’s Budget

By Karen Hudson Samuels – Tell Us Detroit

The Detroit City Council voted to override Dave Bing’s $3.1 billion budget Monday afternoon in an 8 to 1 vote, putting the ball back in the Mayor’s court.

"Council’s override of my veto sends a clear message that a majority of the Council would rather score political points than work together to solve our fiscal crisis" said Mayor Bing in a statement following the council vote. Councilman James Tate was the lone vote in favor the Mayor’s budget.

At the recent Detroit Regional Chamber policy conference in Mackinac, the Mayor met with council members hoping to persuade them to support his deficit reduction plan.

"In the spirit of compromise, I reached out to every member of the Council last week in Mackinac or over the weekend in an attempt to work out an agreement. A majority of the members agreed that a cut of $50 million was unnecessary as changes and revenue this administration promised continues to roll in."

However, both Council President Charles Pugh and President Pro Tem Gary Brown said the Mayor presented “no new money” during those discussions leaving no room to change their position of pushing for further belt tightening.


Pugh said he was willing to sit down with Mayor anytime but stressed the bottom line is to be fiscally responsible. (Photo by HB Meeks/Tell Us Detroit)

"We want to show Lansing, Wall Street and Detroiters, there's no need for an emergency manager to come in and make the tough decisions” said President Pro Tem Gary Brown.

The search for revenue opportunities should be pursed according to Council President Pugh who said “We haven’t raised People Mover fares in 30 years”. Pugh said he was willing to sit down with Mayor anytime but stressed the bottom line is to be fiscally responsible.

In the last week, the Mayor said in his statement, that “The State announced that Detroit will receive an additional $10 million in revenue sharing.” The Mayor said shared with council a signed agreement that would secure $20 million from the Greater Detroit Resource Recovery Authority before the end of the fiscal year.

“I have also pledged to Council that if this money is not received by July 1, I will personally issue an additional $20 million in cuts.”

Budget talks began in April when Mayor Bing appeared before the Detroit City Council with his $3.1-billion budget plan. The council later amended the budget cutting $8.3 million from the police department and $4.1 from the fire department.

The Mayor and council have four weeks, until June 30th to reach an understanding on the city’s budget.