Angela:
This is the list of bullet points. Please put this into an agenda format for me. The title of the meeting is,” Local
Government Update Agenda”, March 30, 2015, 11:15 a.m. Please return to me, | will have to change some of the
content of the bullets.
Thanks,
Randy,
Randall Byrne | State Administrative Manager
Local Government Services - Office of Fiscal Responsibility
State of Michigan | 430 W. Allegan Street, 3rd Floor | Lansing, MI 48922
(517) 335-2521 | (517) 373-0633 (fax) |
[email protected]
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March 30, 2015
Meeting with Governor
Agenda
EMERGENCY MANAGER (EM)
Flint
Deficit Elimination Plan: Emergency Manager (EM) Gerry Ambrose is preparing an E-
Loan application that would provide a $6M E-loan to assist in eliminating the City’s $9M
General Fund deficit by June 30, 2015.
The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) Testing Lab has provided
results to the City of Flint showing that test results for total trihalomethanes (TTHM) levels
for the month of February are well within Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
guidelines for safe water. However, because EPA regulations require that the four month
average for all testing sites be within guidelines, the City is still considered to be out of
compliance by the MDEQ.
The City was awarded $2M through the Financially Distressed Cities, Villages, and
Townships Grant Program. These funds will be used to enhance the City’s water system
through improved waste management and leak detection and pipe assessments.
EM Ambrose’s exit from the City is tentatively scheduled for April 2015; however, to
ensure water quality for the residents and eliminate current water issues, the EM’s exit date
should be delayed until July 2015.
An EM Order is being prepared that would restructure Water System Revenue Bonds
Series 1999 thru 2002 with the Michigan Finance Authority. This would postpone
principal payments and free up $2.24M, allowing the City to further improve its water
distribution system.
Lincoln Park
FY 15 is projected to conclude with a $500k deficit, which may be offset by the one-time
proceeds from the sale of a cellular tower, expected revenues of $900K.
Pensions are poorly funded; police and fire pension is 31% funded while the general
employees’ pension is 22% funded. Retiree healthcare is funded on a pay as you go basis.
Emergency Manager Coulter’s plan to fund pensions to the 60% level by 2035 requires
significant reductions to retiree healthcare. The current annual cost of $4.1M will be
reduced to $600k, via section 12(1)(k) collective bargaining agreement (CBA)
modification.
An additional police and fire pension millage has been placed on the May 5 ballot. If passed
by the electorate, this would raise 6 mills ($3M) for pension funding and other uses.
FINANCIAL REVIEW COMMISSION (FRC)
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Detroit
RECEIVERSHIP TRANSITION ADVISORY BOARD (RTAB)
Ecorse
The Ecorse RTAB continues to monitor the deteriorating conditions of the City.
Preliminary assessment figures show a 26% decline in residential property values citywide.
The City has been unable, during the past two years, to produce a balanced five-year
budget. Such a multi-year budget is mandated by Emergency Manager Order.
Previous financial projections predict significant operating deficits for FY 2016, and total
exhaustion of the General Fund balance in FY 2017.
The City’s pension fund is 41% funded. The City is paying out more in benefits than in
contributions to the plan. The Municipal Employees Pension System has suggested several
options to improve the funding of the plan.
Hamtramck
Current budget to actual reports show that the City is on track to realize the General Fund
balance predicted in year one of Emergency Manager Square’s two-year budget.
The Police Chief resigned on March 11.
Allen Park
City Administrator Karen Folks resigned on March 12, 2015, after RTAB approval of a
Separation Agreement negotiated with the City Council.
Finance Director Bob Cady was appointed Interim City Administrator. Treasury will be
participating with the City in a search process for a permanent City Administrator.
Renovation has begun on a temporary City Hall facility. The City expects to relocate to the
new facility in May 2015.
The City is preparing to issue a bond tender offer to reduce its outstanding debt. The tender
offer process was previously delayed due to the uncertainty between the City Council and
the City Administrator. A meeting is being scheduled.
Benton Harbor
The City is projected to end the FY with a General Fund balance of $200k.
The City was awarded $910K through the Financially Distressed Cities, Villages, and
Townships Grant Program. These funds will be used to enhance the water system through
water main replacements and fire hydrant repairs, and complete a property reappraisal to
provide updated and accurate assessing records. Additionally, the City will provide
community enhancement through blight management and sidewalk replacement.
An estimated 35 residents are without water due to frozen water lines. The City has hired
a local company to assist the residents in thawing the lines for $150 per residence. Even
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though residents are responsible for maintaining the water lines on their property, the City
stepping is offering assistance by paying $75 of the $150, and the resident paying the rest.
Pontiac
The City was awarded $125K through the through the Financially Distressed Cities,
Villages, and Townships Grant Program. These funds will be used to supplement the City’s
ongoing blight management programs.
A new search process to hire a Deputy Mayor will begin shortly after a suitable candidate
was not found through a Michigan Municipal League (MML) search.
A new City Charter has been proposed by the City Charter Revision Commission and will
appear on the May 5 ballot for approval by the electorate.
CONSENT AGREEMENT
Royal Oak Township
The Township is continuing negotiations with the City of Hazel Park for the provision of
police services. The Michigan State Police is currently providing dedicated police patrols
to the Township on a temporary basis. The proposal from the City of Hazel Park for this
service currently exceeds the Township’s available revenue by over $200K. Discussions
regarding the needed level of dedicated patrols within the Township are continuing
between both entities.
The Township is evaluating a proposal from the Ferndale School System to acquire Grant
School (where the Township offices are located) for $1. The Township has retained
McKenna & Associates to assist them in evaluating the feasibility of the Township owning
and operating this facility. The building’s unmet capital needs have been identified at
$1.2M.
Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton, P.C. has been appointed the Township Attorney via the
issuance of a Consent Agreement Order. This firm replaces the firm of Pentiuk, Couvreur
& Kobiljak. This change is estimated to save the Township $78K in budgeted legal service
expenses.
Inkster
City Treasurer Mark Stuhldreher currently has the Consent Agreement powers; City
Manager Richard Marsh has requested that he be given those powers.
The City was awarded $855K through the Financially Distressed Cities, Villages and
Townships Grant Program. These funds will be used to complete a property reappraisal
program, repair and replace fire hydrants and enhancing public safety by providing an
officer to the multi-jurisdictional narcotic team and the deployment of one additional police
officer, and a backup power supply and technology improvements.
The City anticipates a General Fund surplus of less than $100K by the end of the current
fiscal year, June 30, 2015. This is one year sooner than the approved Deficit Elimination
Plan had indicated.
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A Consent judgment levy by the Detroit Water and Sewer Department and Wayne County
will likely be placed on the July tax roll. The City owes DWSD $682K for unpaid water
service and Wayne County $4.9M for unpaid sewer services.
River Rouge
The City was awarded $592K through the Financially Distressed Cities, Villages, and
Townships Grant Program. These funds will be used to enhance public safety through
improved street lighting and infrastructure improvements to City Hall.
A reduction in the healthcare benefits for active employees and retirees was implemented
on November 1, 2014. The City estimates an annual savings of $400K.
The City must develop a sustainable five year budget and have no funds with a deficit in
order to exit from the Consent Agreement.
NEUTRAL EVALUATION
Highla
nd Park
The City has hired Pierce, Monroe & Associates to assess the adequacy and accuracy of
billing records, develop a methodology for calculation of amounts due to the City per
customer, develop a work plan for implementation of an accounting program, and
calculation of outstanding account balances per customer account.
The City made an initial offer of $2.2M to settle past due accounts to the Detroit Water and
Sewerage Department (DWSD). The offer was rejected by DWSD. Discussions are
ongoing.
The City was awarded $2M through the Financially Distressed Cities, Villages, and
Townships Grant Program. These funds will be used to enhance the City’s water system
through meter replacement, leak detection, and system repairs.
The Request for proposal (RFP) for the selection of a third party to operate and maintain
the City’s water and sewer systems, as required by the City’s Plan of Adjustment, are due
on April 20, 2015.
In August 2015, an emergency loan of $16.4M, which includes the restructuring of $4.8M
in existing loans, will be used to refund $2.7M in Fiscal Stabilization Bonds, $5.2M in
Financial Recovery Bonds, and $3.7M in State Revolving Fund Bonds.
BenStaff has been hired by the City to make recommendations to reduce healthcare costs.
The law firm of Lewis & Munday has been hired to assist the City with the restructuring
of the other post-employment benefits (OPEB) benefits.
R COMMUNITIES
OTHE
Melvindale
The City was awarded $88K through the Financially Distressed Cities, Villages, and
Townships Grant Program. These funds will be used enhance public safety through fleet
replacement of police vehicles and updated technology.
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Wayne
- The City anticipates a General Fund deficit in the next two years.
- The City Manager signed a six month contract. This may lead to more instability in the
City’s administration.
- The City has approved a May 2015 ballot proposal of 3 mills for five years that if approved
by voters, would assist in funding police and fire retirement costs.
Wayne County
- The Michigan Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of retirees who receive a 13th
check to offset inflation. The County is required to return $32M to the Pension Equity
Fund.
- Cash reserves reached its lowest point in August 2014 with pooled cash falling to
approximately $73M, the average balance is $170M. This includes proceeds from a short
term borrowing of $75M.
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Lamphier, Wendy (T reasury)