PONTIAC, Mich. - Municipal officials, including Michigan Municipal League President Jeff Jenks, and business leaders gathered Friday (Dec. 4) morning in Pontiac at the Mayors' Business Breakfast hosted by WWJ Radio 950 AM. The standing-room-only crowd heard insights on the challenges faced by local governments in the region. The panelists were Dearborn mayor John O'Reilly, Jr,; Southfield mayor Brenda Lawrence; Novi mayor David Landry; Warren mayor James Fouts; Sterling Heights mayor Richard Notte; and Detroit deputy mayor Saul Green. Each had sobering information regarding local revenue streams, especially from property taxes. There also was consensus that the reduction in state revenue sharing was harmful, especially occurring midway through the budget year for local units that must be fiscally responsible. To meet the fiscal challenges, numerous approaches that are being taken were discussed. They talked about creative programs to combat mortgage foreclosures, potentially expanding the use of enterprise zones, and the problems vacant houses can cause in neighborhoods. They also discussed proactive programs to attract and retain businesses; using the "CitiStat" program to apply private sector accountability to local government to reduce expenditures; greater regional emphasis on transit; and efforts to be more collaborative, likely including consolidation. Regarding the potential benefits of consolidating services or units of government, the audience was cautioned that local officials and citizens should not allow emotional attachments to traditional boundaries impede the sort of fundamental change that will be needed. Overall, the leaders said that in an era when businesses need to dramatically change, local governments can no longer rely on 20-year-old operation models.
-- Post by Bill Mathewson, general counsel for The League
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