Flint is edging closer to getting out from under state oversight.
Gov. Rick Snyder put the city of Flint under receivership in 2011 due to a financial emergency. Under a series of emergency managers, the city’s elected officials had their powers stripped.
But today, at Flint Mayor Karen Weaver’s request, the state oversight board has voted to return local control to the city’s elected officials. State Treasury officials must give the final say, but that’s expected.
“I think we’ve been able to show that we have the will to lead and that we can make those tough decisions,” says Weaver. “We can make good sound financial decisions and we’re going to continue to stay on track.”
The RTAB board retains some financial oversight, over things like the city budget and union contracts.
Weaver hopes a final “divorce” ending state oversight may be coming sometime later this year.
However, RTAB Chairman Frederick Headen stops short of that.
“If not a divorce at least a first step in a separation,” Headen said after the vote.
A final decision on a "divorce" will eventually have to be made by Treasury officials.
Flint remains one of two Michigan cities under some form of state receivership.
