Bing Pushes to Cut Deficit

Detroit Mayor Dave Bing met with Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and legislators last week to push a deficit-elimination plan that hinges on the passage of new state laws.

After the meeting, Bing told reporters he received support but no commitments.

The mayor’s fiscal 2012 budget relies in part on the Legislature’s approval of new measures. He has also unveiled a five-year deficit elimination plan that he described as the city’s only path back to fiscal stability.

The plans call for the state Legislature to allow Detroit to continue to collect income and utility-use taxes from its residents despite recent Census figures that show the city’s population fell to 713,000, below the 750,000 threshold needed to collect the taxes.

The plan also hinges on state support to increase the city’s tax rate on casinos by 3%.

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