What options do they have? Continue to tax the bejeepers outta its citizens; those who have the few jobs and themselves are on the verge. Sell assets - parks, stadiums, or outsource? Borrow? From who? Wall Street, the same folks who put us in this predicament? File bankruptcy under federal receivership itself near the edge? Or just plain beg. Well, Michigan has just such a situation.
You'll notice that Mt. Clemens does not collect taxes on 42% of property within its borders. Smells like Worcester, MA home of the heartless non-profits?
N. Bunkley from the NYT reports: DETROIT — A Michigan city is pleading with churches, schools and a hospital for donations to help cover its staggering budget deficit.
The mayor of Mount Clemens, Barb Dempsey, sent a letter this week to 35 tax-exempt organizations asking them to voluntarily contribute to the city’s general fund, which pays for services like fire protection, streetlights and roads. Ms. Dempsey said the city has already drastically cut its expenses, having disbanded the police department six years ago, but still faces a $960,000 deficit that is projected to reach $1.5 million next year.
“Those are all services that they utilize at no cost to them,” Ms. Dempsey said. “We figured it can’t hurt to send out letters. If you don’t ask, you never know.”
Mount Clemens, about 25 miles northeast of Detroit, collects no taxes from 42 percent of the property within its borders. The 4.2-square-mile city has about 17,000 residents and is home to 26 churches, a hospital, several schools and the headquarters of Macomb County, the third largest in Michigan. If not exempt, the properties would pay at least $1.2 million, enough to wipe out the deficit, Ms. Dempsey said.
