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Bing To Meet With Snyder To Discuss Budget

DETROIT (WWJ) - Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, speaking live on WWJ Newsradio 950, said he plans to meet with Governor Rick Snyder, Wednesday, to look at budget issues facing the city and the state. 

This follows Tuesday night's State of the City address in which Bing spoke about the "devastating" consequences Snyder's state budget would have on Detroit.

"We're gonna have some conversation about the impact that some of his decisions would have on the city of Detroit. I understand the issues that he has statewide, and I want to make sure that he understand the kinds of issues that I have to deal with here in Detroit," Bing said. 

Bing said he realizes that the financial problems he detailed in his State of the City address aren't unique to Detroit.  The state is looking to educate and expand the role of emergency financial managers.  It's a controversial issue, and something Bing hopes isn't in Detroit's future.

"I'm not sure there are enough people with the kind of expertise to come in and be financial managers, especially in government. Government is quite different from the private sector," Bing said.

The Mayor said he is hoping to reach common ground with Governor Snyder on several issues.

"Some of our development projects -- we're still going to need some kinds of support there, so I've gotta look at, you know, the things that we're working on right now and let him know where I've gotta have help... I know we've got to take some cuts, but I've got to fight for Detroiters," he said.

Bing said the city's budget deficit stands at $150 million. That's half of what it once was.

LISTEN - Mayor Bing LIVE on WWJ:

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To build camaraderie, the two men planned to attend Wednesday night's Michigan-Wisconsin basketball game in Ann Arbor. (More on this).

Listen to Bing's State of the City address at this link.

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