City’s financial picture continues to be grim
The city’s financial picture continues to be presented as dire to elected officials.
There have been budget sessions for the city council and mayor and they were presented the grim news by the city’s own financial consultant, Plante Moran.
Here’s the message: Hamtramck’s expenditures will continue to be greater than the revenue the city collects from taxes, state and federal aid, fines and fees.
Eventually, the city won’t be able to pay its bills or employee salaries and pensions.
We have rung this alarm numerous times over the past year. Hamtramck has undergone two state interventions in the recent past with the appointments of two emergency financial managers.
Long story made short: they didn’t fix the ongoing financial problems.
Some hard decisions will have to made by our elected officials, some of whom campaigned on having new ways to approach our ongoing problems and challenges.
We’re still waiting to hear these ideas.
In the meantime, some unpopular decisions are going to have to be made.
No one said that being involved in city government is easy. In fact, most people running for office really have no idea what challenges await them.
In Hamtramck, we’re all going to have to brace for a shock.
Posted March 11, 2022
3 Responses to City’s financial picture continues to be grim
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Zahir Ahmed
March 21, 2022 at 3:41 pm
The solution is actually quite simple just look at the city around Hamtramck in all directions. Detroit filed for bankruptcy and never looked back got things cleaned up fairly well. I see no other feasible solution. The people will never approve a tax increase and a levy by a judge is akin to cruel and unusual punishment and few have money to pay for either option.
The governor has no appetite for an emergency manager or bankruptcy because it would alienate her voting base that’s why Snyder a Republican had to be a man and get it done for Detroit.
Good Luck.
Derek H.
March 23, 2022 at 8:03 pm
The state will never authorize bankruptcy for Hamtramck. We have no real outstanding debt. Detroit owed everyone money all over the place. We struggle to make payments to the pension holder. The judgement levy is coming. Sell your house and get out now while you still can.
Nasr Hussain
March 24, 2022 at 5:36 pm
There is no need for judgment levy. The city can easily redirect all income tax revenue to the payment of pension obligations.