I suppose a consent agreement would get him off the hook for being unable to find ways of improving the economies of cities without seizing their assets.
That is the entire 'Emergency Manager' legislation in a nutshell. The Michigan Republicans have been unable to solve problems without extreme measures. Other primarily Republican states are finding ways of supporting stressed cities through supplemental financial support due to loss of tax revenues from falling real estate prices.
But, Snyder doesn't see an answer in the same way, in the face of a recovering auto industry, without adding to the real estate bubble by seizing city assets and adding them to the market. So, cronies of Snyder are getting city assets at dirt cheap prices, what could be better?
...The state-appointed (click title to entry - thank you) review team examining the city of Detroit's finances is expected to complete its work March 27, Snyder said. According to state law, the team can recommend the appointment of an emergency manager to take over the city's finances. But the governor has said he would prefer the more moderate consent agreement, which would leave the city's elected officials in charge.
An emergency manager, Snyder said, "is a possibility, but it's not something I want to see happen. That would be a failure. … The right answer is, there's a consent agreement.
"What is a consent agreement? Basically, it's people agreeing, here's a path to move forward that we're going to hold people accountable for actually doing (that leads to) stability, basic services and a path for growth.
"Let's put together an agreement."
But the deadline for action is looming — the city is expected to run out of money this spring.
"I am concerned about that," Snyder said. "But I've been happy to do this agreement for months.
"The thing about doing an agreement is, you have to have somebody on the other side agree."
Snyder said he plans to become more publicly vocal about the need for a consent agreement and more vocal about what the consent agreement should contain....
