Emergency Manager Law to go Before Voters on November Ballot

The Michigan Supreme Court has ruled that a referendum of the state's emergency manager law should go before voters on the November ballot.

According to MLive, four of the seven justices agreed that the Board of Canvassers must certify the referendum petition submitted by Stand Up for Democracy, a statewide coalition behind the effort to overturn Public Act 4.

Governor Snyder's statement regarding the Michigan Supreme Court ruling:

"While I fully support the right of all citizens to express their views, suspension of the Local Government and School District Fiscal Accountability Act may adversely affect Michigan communities and school districts mired in financial emergencies. It promises to make eventual solutions to those emergencies more painful."

"One of the act's primary goals is to identify financial emergencies before they become full-blown crises. Suspending the law limits the state's ability to offer early intervention and assistance, and eliminates important tools that emergency managers need to address financial emergencies as quickly and efficiently as possible."

Flint Mayor Dayne Wallling issued the following statement:

"It is good to see the flame of democracy ignited again in the State of Michigan. The voters will now be able to exercise their constitutional right to consider repealing the emergency manager act."

"The legal decision does not change anything about the City of Flint's finances, however. It is my hope that there can be cooperation at all levels in the public and private sectors to address the deep rooted challenges we face in Michigan's cities. This is a time when we need to stop fighting over control and instead work together in cooperation."

Once the petitions are certified by the Board of Canvassers, Public Act 4 will be suspended pending the results of the November election.

The cities of Flint, Pontiac, Benton Harbor and Ecorse are currently under the control of an emergency manager. School districts include Detroit, Muskegon Heights and Dearborn.

Filed Under: emergency manager law, Emergency Manager Michael Brown, Governor Rick Snyder, Public Act 4

Categories: State News