Emergency Manager: Merge Pontiac With Oakland County
He admits it's a "radical" idea, but the Emergency Manager of Pontiac has written a letter to Oakland County Executive Brooks Patterson asking for a meeting to discuss the possibilities of merging the city with the county.
In a letter to Patterson obtained by WWJ and dated June 8th, Michael Stampfler says he would like "to have an early discussion with you to discuss the possibilities for merger of Pontiac into/with Oakland County." The letter goes on to say "I realize this is perhaps a radical concept but I hope the positive consequences associated with such an initiative may be carefully weighed against the negatives of continuing the present situation."
The letter also includes the budget for the upcoming fiscal year and says there is an $11.3 million revenue loss expected for the 2011-2012 fiscal year and a total deficit of $12.5 million as of June 30th, 2012. The deficit is projected to rise to $24.2 million by June 2013.
Stampfler indicated he will be making recommendations concerning the budget in the coming days and mentions bankruptcy.
It's unclear if a merger is possible, although early indications from Patterson's office is the county is not interested.
The Oakland County Sheriff's Department is to begin patrolling Pontiac streets in July. That consolidation of services is expected to save Pontiac $2.2 million dollars a year starting next year.
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