DETROIT — The idea is extreme, even in a city accustomed to fighting for survival: Should the state of Michigan step in to run Detroit?
The governor has taken steps in that direction, proposing an unprecedented move that could give an appointed manager unchecked power to gut union contracts, cut employee health insurance and slash services.
City leaders bristle at the notion. Democratic Mayor Dave Bing says Detroit doesn’t need the help. He insists the city is reducing a $150 million budget deficit and easing cash-flow problems on its own.
“This is our city,” Bing said. “Detroit needs to be run by Detroiters.”
If it happens, Detroit would be the largest U.S. city ever taken over by a state. Michigan has seized control of smaller struggling cities, but until now, Detroit was off-limits.
That changed this week, when Republican Gov. Rick Snyder’s administration said it would begin a review of Detroit’s finances. If the governor concludes that the city’s economic situation constitutes an emergency, he could dispatch a manager who could push the mayor and City Council to the sidelines.
The financial review starts Tuesday and might last up to 90 days, meaning a takeover could be underway by the end of February.
