Emergency Financial Manager named in Allen Park - New York News | NYC Breaking News

The cash-strapped city of Allen Park is getting an Emergency Financial Manager after a meeting by State Treasury officials on Thursday.

Governor Rick Snyder making it official in a letter addressed to Allen Park's mayor and the city council saying Joyce Parker is set to begin her new position on Monday under the provisions of Public Act 72.

Interim City Administrator Dave Boomer says he's not surprised by the move. "We were still trying to govern ourselves. Obviously Lansing does not agree with our attempt" he said.

Allen Park tried couldn't get itself out of its financial mess. The state's financial review team pointed to several examples such as, the failed investment into Unity Studios that cost the city millions and the fact Allen Park's general fund decreased by 91 percent over two years.

It called the city council manifestly dysfunctional - citing an example that it caused an additional 2 million dollar deficit. And because of all of that - in the city's current budget there was no money for police and fire operations.

Resident Linda Sisk said, "I understand they can come in do what they want to get the money they want I don't think that's fair to taxpayers." While resident Michael Korczyk said, "I think we've needed someone to come in here and take over few years now. They just keep messing up, kind of sick of it, things are pretty good in Ecorse. I hope they can come in straighten this out."

Allen Park tried fighting this and appealed the governor's decision last month, but Governor Snyder rejected that. He felt Allen Park was in just too much financial trouble saying, "The didn't put a clear enough plan forward. The have serious issues that need to be addressed in terms of the movie studio situation. It's a terrible situation that put them in serious financial jeopardy," Snyder said.

But Dave Boomer said, 'no one is denying we don't have issues we have financial issues and serious issues. But we are just concerned over the long term ramifications of the communities they've been in. The debt that's been in those communities and where those communities are today.'

But Governor Snyder said that's not the case. He says he is already working with communities like Ecorse that has started to show signs of recovery to transition out of having an Emergency Financial Manager. Within months he says he hopes to do the same for Benton Harbor and Pontiac.