Michigan's Emergency Manager Law

[MineralMan]

Effective on March 4, 2011, this law was passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor. It is the law that enables the takeover of municipal governments and other agencies by an emergency manager, appointed by the Governor.

There's a lot of confusion on DU about this, so here's a link to the law. It's all in there. You can read it at your leisure. If you question the legality of what is happening, you really should read this carefully.

Note: The federal government has no power over cities. All cities are incorporated by the states where they are. Each state has different procedures and laws regarding city government. Many states have the power to step in and operate a city under certain circumstances.

Here's the link to a google search. Unfortunately, the nature of the actual link doesn't convert in DU:

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=MCL+141.1501

Click the first result on the search page.

[izquierdista]

1. I wouldn't exactly call it a "law"

Then again, many totalitarian states are great at ginning up "laws" to serve their ends.

[MineralMan]

2. It is, in fact, a law. Whether it is a good law is another issue.

But it is a law.

[Yo_Mama]

6. It's been a law

A lot of this is old. Most states have such laws.

(1) The state financial authority of a local government may conduct a preliminary review to determine the existence of a local government financial problem if 1 or more of the following occur:

(a) The governing body or the chief administrative officer of a local government requests a preliminary review under this act. The request shall be in writing and shall identify the existing or anticipated financial conditions or events that make the request necessary.

(b) The state financial authority receives a written request from a creditor with an undisputed claim that remains unpaid 6 months after its due date against the local government that exceeds the greater of $10,000.00 or 1% of the annual general fund budget of the local government, provided that the creditor notifies the local government in writing at least 30 days before his or her request to the state financial authority of his or her intention to submit a written request under this subdivision.

(c) The state financial authority receives a petition containing specific allegations of local government financial distress signed by a number of registered electors residing within the local government's jurisdiction equal to not less than 5% of the total vote cast for all candidates for governor within the local government's jurisdiction at the last preceding election at which a governor was elected. Petitions shall not be filed under this subdivision within 60 days before any election of the local government.

(d) The state financial authority receives written notification that a local government has not timely deposited its minimum obligation payment to the local government pension fund as required by law.

(e) The state financial authority receives written notification that the local government has failed for a period of 7 days or more after the scheduled date of payment to pay wages and salaries or other compensation owed to employees or benefits owed to retirees.

(f) The state financial authority receives written notification from a trustee, paying agent, bondholder, or auditor engaged by the local government of a default in a bond or note payment or a violation of 1 or more bond or note covenants.

(g) The state financial authority of a local government receives a resolution from either the senate or the house of representatives requesting a preliminary review under this section.

(h) The local government has violated a requirement of, or a condition of an order issued pursuant to, former 1943 PA 202, the revenue bond act of 1933, 1933 PA 94, MCL 141.101 to 141.140, the revised municipal finance act, 2001 PA 34, MCL 141.2101 to 141.2821, or any other law governing the issuance of bonds or notes.

(i) A municipal government has violated the conditions of an order issued by the local emergency financial assistance loan board pursuant to the emergency municipal loan act, 1980 PA 243, MCL 141.931 to 141.942.

(j) The local government has violated a requirement of sections 17 to 20 of the uniform budgeting and accounting act, 1968 PA 2, MCL 141.437 to 141.440.

(k) The local government fails to timely file an annual financial report or audit that conforms with the minimum procedures and standards of the state financial authority and is required for local governments under the uniform budgeting and accounting act, 1968 PA 2, MCL 141.421 to 141.440a, or 1919 PA 71, MCL 21.41 to 21.55. In addition, if the local government is a school district, the school district fails to provide an annual financial report or audit that conforms with the minimum procedures and standards of the superintendent of public instruction and is required under the revised school code, 1976 PA 451, MCL 380.1 to 380.1852, and 1979 PA 94, MCL 388.1601 to 388.1772.

(l) A municipal government is delinquent in the distribution of tax revenues, as required by law, that it has collected for another taxing jurisdiction, and that taxing jurisdiction requests a preliminary review.

(m) A local government is in breach of its obligations under a deficit elimination plan or an agreement entered into pursuant to a deficit elimination plan.

(n) A court has ordered an additional tax levy without the prior approval of the governing body of the local government.

(o) A municipal government has ended a fiscal year in a deficit condition as defined in section 21 of the Glenn Steil state revenue sharing act of 1971, 1971 PA 140, MCL 141.921, or has failed to comply with the requirements of that section for filing or instituting a financial plan to correct the deficit condition.

(p) A school district ended its most recently completed fiscal year with a deficit in 1 or more of its funds and the school district has not submitted a deficit elimination plan to the state financial authority within 30 days after the district's deadline for submission of its annual financial statement.

(q) A local government has been assigned a long-term debt rating within or below the BBB category or its equivalent by 1 or more nationally recognized credit rating agencies.

(r) The existence of other facts or circumstances that in the state treasurer's sole discretion for a municipal government are indicative of municipal financial stress, or, that in the superintendent of public instruction's sole discretion for a school district are indicative of school district financial stress.

They couldn't make payroll in Benton Harbor. I have yet to hear the talking heads explain why this is not a problem. You need to pay your employees. The state gave them a loan to do it.

[MineralMan]

Yes, what just passed simply alters the existing law.

And you're right. Most states have a means to take over failing cities. Lots of people don't seem to understand that.

[madfloridian]

3. "local government and school district fiscal accountability act".

141.1501 Short title.

Sec. 1.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the "local government and school district fiscal accountability act".


I don't hear any Democratic voices expressing concern. I hear Rachel and Ed and Lawrence....that's it.

The destruction of a state and school system...where are the opposing voices?

[MineralMan]

4. Yup. It passed in Michigan, and now it's being used.

I don't know if anyone fought against it in Michigan. I don't really follow politics in that state.

It gives the Governor some sweeping powers, for sure. He's testing that power now.

Another result of the disastrous 2012 election, where people sat on their hands out of their dislike of President Obama. The result was Republican takeovers of several state legislatures. So, we have this, and other debacles developing on those states.

Thanks, folks! :sarcasm:

[madfloridian]

5. That is not a fair statement. Dem governor Granholm appointed Bobb...

who is the current boss of Detroit schools and has so much power.

I am tired of the idea that we are supposed to swallow everything because of the extremists on the other side.

BTW I voted straight line Democrat, as if it were any of your business.

BTW It is my Democratic president and his fellow Democrats who are leading the way in destroying the public school system I cherish.

[MineralMan]

7. Thanks for voting.

That's all I ask, that Democrats turn out and vote. It doesn't seem so much to ask, really.

As for particular situations, that's another matter.

[madfloridian]

8. I disagree.

Things do matter. Issues matter, public schools matter.

[MineralMan]

10. I did not say they didn't matter. I didn't say that at all.

I said they were separate issues ("another matter"). Please read more carefully. If you can show me one where Republicans have a better idea, I will be very, very surprised.

Of course issues matter.

[Scuba]

9. "local government and school district fiscal accountability act" sound so much better than...

..."land grab for our rich developer friends act".

[MineralMan]

11. Yah. The names of things often don't reflect their purpose.

War is Peace, after all, and the Peacekeeper Missile was benevolent.

[bif]

12. And look how they're using it in Benton Harbor

It makes me sick.

[AndyTiedye]

13. Looks Like They Can Take Over The Running of ELECTIONS Too

With Repig totally in control of state government, and taking over all the Democratic cities in the state
they will have complete control over the elections. I hope MI doesn't turn into another Georgia.

[Brickbat]

14. Some will rob you with a six-gun, and some with a fountain pen.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

15. Actually that was just an update to a law that had been on the books for 20 years

It also was not in effect when the Benton Harbor process started...with a request from the city manager to the state.

[MineralMan]

16. I know. I was just providing a reference for people.

For some reason, people thing what was done was illegal. It's not. It's not a good thing, but it's not illegal. In fact, most states have a similar procedure.

I'm just posting information to eliminate some of the incorrect crap that keeps floating around. I don't like the situation, either. I think it's abusive. But, it's legal.