Michigan

Michigan officials Thursday named Joyce Parker as emergency manager of Allen Park, the latest city to be taken over by the state for fiscal distress.

Governing magazine last week named Michigan budget director John Nixon as one of seven Public Officials of the Year in recognition of bringing down the state’s chronic deficits and other efforts.

Michigan's Trinity and Pennsylvania's CHE would create one of the nation's largest Catholic health care sytems spanning 21 states if their newly announced plan to merge goes ahead.

Moody's said Monday it is continuing its review for possible downgrade on Detroit amid uncertainty surrounding the future of the state's emergency management law.

A report out this week estimates Michigan could save nearly $1 billion if it participates in the Medicaid expansion provision that is part of the new federal health care law.

Standard & Poor's last week revised its outlook to negative from stable on the Henry Ford Health System, one of Michigan's largest providers, while affirming its A rating.

Michigan Treasurer Andy Dillon, in New York with Gov. Rick Snyder and Budget Director John Nixon to meet with rating agencies, talks with the Bond Buyer about what it will mean for the state if its controversial emergency management law is overturned.

Moody's Investors Service last week knocked its rating on Michigan's Pinckney Community School District down four notches, to Baa1 from Aa3, and affirmed the negative outlook.

The Michigan state lottery saw record sales in fiscal 2012, contributing $770 million to the school aid fund, officials said last week.

Gov. Rick Snyder Tuesday formally declared the Detroit suburb of Allen Park to be in a state of fiscal emergency after denying the city's appeal two weeks ago. The city's problems are tied largely to a $31 million 2009 bond issue floated for a now-failed film studio.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder Monday signed the final, supplemental spending pieces of the fiscal 2013 budget.

A group of high-profile Detroit-area supporters from the business and political communities urged lawmakers last week to advance a bill that would create a regional transit authority.

Lawmakers last week approved legislation that allows local governments to issue bonds to cover the costs of shifting to a 401-k style pension plan, as well as to cover their other-post employment benefits liability. Gov. Rick Snyder is expected to sign the measure.

A ballot referendum that would require a two-thirds legislative majority on any tax increases could negatively impact Michigan's bond rating by restricting its ability to cope with tough economic times, warns an independent research group in a report.

Ahead of a November ballot referendum to repeal Michigan's emergency management law, a new survey shows that 38% of local officials support it.

Benton Harbor, which is under state-controlled emergency financial management by Michigan, hopes to win a $7 million loan from the state to help stabilize its finances, according to local reports.

Oakland County, Mich., last week approved a $1.27 billion three-year general-fund budget that includes no tax increases and $500 bonuses for most full-time employees in the first year.

A year after firing its new CEO, the Wayne County Airport Authority, Michigan has hired the airport's long-time CFO Thomas Naughton to serve in the top position.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder Wednesday launched a campaign targeting six November ballot measures, including one that could overturn the state's emergency management law.

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette last week filed a federal lawsuit to halt a new $245 million American Indian-owned casino set to open in downtown Lansing later this year.