LANSING – The city of Flint has exited its 41-month-long financial emergency. Gov. Rick Snyder announced the action today, with emergency financial manager Jerry Ambrose and Deputy State Treasurer Wayne Workman announcing the appointment of a five-member Transition Advisory Board, selected by Gov. Snyder.
“I am thrilled that after nearly four long years of receivership, the city of Flint is standing on its own again,” state Representative Sheldon Neeley (D-Flint) said. “While this is good news, I would have hoped that the other Flint-area lawmakers and I – elected by the people of the area – could have been consulted on the transition and move to a transition board.”
The city has been in state receivership since December 2011, when Gov. Snyder first found that Flint’s finances were tumbling and appointed Michael Brown, the first of four emergency managers for the city.
Since that time, nearly $30 million in deficits in Flint’s general and water funds have been eliminated; there have been major changes to the city’s management structure; agreements have been finalized to merge the city and Genesee County 911 and district court operations; and concessionary contracts have been put in place for a reduced workforce.
“It’s time for Flint to be a city of its own again, with a mayor, city administrator and city council able to make plans for the future,” Rep. Phil Phelps (D-Flushing) said. “Flint is on its own two feet again, and the budget they have presented could bring our city into the next fiscal year with no deficit for the first time in a decade. Now comes the hardest part – making sure we keep on an upward trajectory to bring this community in line with the goals of the future.”