FLINT (WJRT) -
(02/20/13) - It's been more than a year since an emergency financial manager first took control of the city of Flint. Wednesday, they're trying to get back local control.
A finance committee met at city hall to take those first steps. City leaders are looking at their mistakes in the past, so they know how to proceed in the future.
"We just want to move forward and get on the right track for the residents of this community," said Flint City Council President Scott Kincaid.
From an emergency financial manager to financial independence, the city of Flint is ready to say goodbye to EFM Ed Kurtz, and take back control.
A member of a non-profit organization, the Michigan Municipal League, is helping the city's finance committee get the ball rolling.
"All of us were taking notes about the best practices other communities are using," said Mayor Dayne Walling.
It was an honest discussion on the right and wrong things to do with a budget. And with millions of dollars on the books, the Municipal League says first city leaders must be realistic about their numbers and make changes.
One of the steps they'd like to take would be to check the books regularly, not just once a year. Eventually the goal is send a proposal to Gov. Rick Snyder asking for a transition advisory board.
This board would oversee the city's finances, instead of the EFM, slowly putting control back in the hands of local leaders.
"Making the governor understand, it's time for a change here in Flint, elected officials take back over, do the right thing, we're going to put a proposal together, a resolution to the governor and treasurer prior to the new emergency manager law taking effect," Kincaid said.
Their goal is to get this proposal together by the time the new EFM law takes effect at the end of March. They're going to continue this discussion at the city council meeting on Monday.
