Gov. Scott Declares Financial Emergency For Opa-Locka
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OPA-LOCKA (CBSMiami) – Gov. Rick Scott has declared a financial emergency for the city of Opa-locka.
The order, which was issued Wednesday, means the state will oversee virtually everything for the city.
According to the order, Opa-locka will be required to give Gov. Scott access to all its records, information and assets.
As part of the plan, the governor will also create a financial emergency board. The board will regularly report back to Scott its findings, recommendations and actions.
With the state seizing control of the city's finances, Opa-locka will have to get Scott's approval before passing an annual budget or making any chances to the budget.
The moves comes not long after Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez asked Gov. Scott in a letter to place the city of 16,000 people under state control.
Opa-locka officials said the city faces a $1.4 million shortfall plus millions in prior debts.
The FBI has been investigating corruption allegations against Opa-locka's mayor and several other top officials.
CBS4 News broadcast the first and only television interview with the FBI's inside man in Opa-locka, Frank Zambrana, who, for nearly two years, wore a wire and recorded a variety of officials allegedly shaking him down for bribes to get a city business license.
In March, agents raided city hall looking for evidence, but no arrests have been made.