Detroit | More layoffs to come

More layoffs, the retraining of Detroit firefighters as first responders, drastic cuts to operations and the privatization of some city services, such as public transportation.

All are proposals offering a glimpse into Detroit’s new fiscal reality as Deputy Mayor Kirk Lewis prepares to present the city’s first budget proposal under a consent agreement with the state to the City Council on Thursday morning.

Mayoral spokeswoman Naomi Patton declined to discuss the planned budget. She said Lewis, who is filling in for Mayor Dave Bing while he recuperates at home from surgery, will provide more information when he makes the presentation to the council.

According to some city officials, it will be a deep bloodletting. The consent deal the city reached last week with Gov. Rick Snyder to avoid the state appointment of an emergency manager calls for Detroit to live within its means. Annual expenses may no longer exceed revenues — as has happened for decades — as part of a plan to eliminate the city’s immediate $100-million-plus deficit and long-term accumulated debt, said to exceed $12 billion.

That will mean a mix of departments closing or consolidating and services drastically cut or eliminated. Council President Pro Tem Gary Brown said he believes only the police and fire departments will be protected. “Everything else should be on the table for elimination, consolidation or merger,” Brown said. “That’s what the discussion will be about next week … and then being honest with Detroiters.”

Source:

Read More @ More layoffs, drastic cuts glimpse of new fiscal reality for Detroit | Detroit Free Press | freep.com.