After a review of Allen Park's finances by a state-appointed team, Governor Snyder declared that the city is in a financial emergency. That finding could lead to the appointment of an emergency financial manager to try to get the city on stable financial ground.
While the Allen Park city council was in favor a state review of the city's finances, the Mayor and the Mayor Pro Tem opposed the request. Mayor William Matakas says he will advise the council to challenge the state's findings.
"We should avail ourselves of every opportunity to tell the state our story, the things that have developed. Certainly, they [the state] were advised of certain things going on, and those things have now come to fruition, which are favorable to the cities financial position," said Matakas.
He says, city officials will be able to show changes that will dispute the need for an emergency financial manager, including revenue from a millage and union concessions.
"I think any city that has an EM has suffered a tremendous erosion in how people view that city, as a place that they want to come and raise families, and conduct their businesses...and so I just feel that an EM is a very harmful thing for the future of a city," Matakas told Michigan Radio's Jennifer White.
