Detroit Mayor Meets With Union Leaders To Address Cuts

DETROIT (WWJ) - Detroit Mayor Dave Bing is making his case for city cuts and tax revenues between Lansing and Detroit Monday.

While in Detroit, Mayor Bing is meeting with local union leadership, looking for help with the City's $300-million budget deficit.

Bing says Detroit faces a state takeover if it is unable to balance its budget and get its finances in order. 

In Lansing, Mayor Bing's  appeal for permission to continue the City's Income and Utility taxes has been met with mixed reviews among Republican lawmakers in Lansing.

"We said we are going to have to evaluate the list of items that are directly impacted  by the loss of population from the census, he made an appeal to make sure we look at those, and we made a firm commitment to look at those," says Bolger.

That's House Republican Speaker Jase Bolger, who says the Mayor does not yet have approval for his request from the Republican Caucus.

"We didn't make any commitments, but what we said today is that we will develop a working relationship, I appreciate him coming forward and
I know our caucus members appreciate hearing his vision, and the steps that he has taken, and we understand that the legislature is going to have to be a partner with Detroit to make sure they turn around," says Bolger.

Bing delivered his $3.1 billion budget proposal to City Council in April.