Detroit Council Approves Bing's Budget Compromise

DETROIT (WWJ) - The Detroit City Council has approved Mayor Dave Bing's budget compromise. In a 7-2 vote, council members OKed Bing's $25 million dollar amendment that the mayor says will help keep police on the streets.

Council President Pro-Tem Gary Brown says the move is a mistake.

"Putting $25 million back into the budget, $25 million that we don't have ... Well, it's not gonna cause any emergency manager to come in here tomorrow, it's not gonna cause our bond rating to go down, but it's certainly going to put us one step closer because we're adding to the deficit," said Brown.

Councilwoman Saunteel Jenkins, who voted, initially, in favor of a $50 million cut, called the compromise reasonable.

"Because I think that it's time for us to find a compromise on both sides and move forward, but I also will be watching very closely," she said.

Meantime, Mayor Bing and his administration say approval of the amendment will help prevent drastic cuts to city services and public safety.
However, Bing said this doesn't mean the struggle to balance the budget and eliminate the deficit is over.

"Layoffs will be a reality, there's no way around that. And, with those layoffs, are obvioulsly going to be some service problems," said the Mayor. "So, we've for to get better at servicing the city, the citizens here, as well as the businesses that are here," he said.

Bing said his next challenge is to work out a five-year deficit elimination plan with Council that will have to also be approved by the state.