'Complicated' Detroit Bankruptcy Vote Out July 21

By ED WHITE
Associated Press

DETROIT (AP) - The counting of votes cast by creditors in Detroit's bankruptcy case is a "little complicated," but the city is on track to report results next week, an attorney said Monday.

More than 30,000 retirees and current and former workers were eligible to vote on pension changes through last Friday. Their approval would trigger a bailout, valued at $816 million, from the state of Michigan, foundations and the Detroit Institute of Arts.

The city had planned to file the results next Monday, but Judge Steven Rhodes asked whether the numbers could become public this week. No, attorney Heather Lennox replied.

"The financial tabulation is a little complicated," she said without elaborating.

The ballots are counted two ways: by a simple up-or-down vote and also by the size of a creditor's claim. In the case of a retiree, it would be the pension owed. The job is being handled by a California contractor.

Approval or defeat will become part of the evidence at trial next month on Detroit's overall strategy to get out of bankruptcy. Approval would make it easier for Rhodes to declare the city's exit plan fair and feasible.

Financial aid from the state and other parties would prevent the sale of city-owned art and avert larger pension cuts. The art museum said it will hold a news conference Wednesday. It has pledged to come up with $100 million for the so-called grand bargain.

General retirees would see a 4.5 percent cut and also lose annual inflation adjustments. Police officers and firefighters would lose a portion of their annual cost-of-living payment.

[Detroit Bankruptcy: Continuing Coverage]

© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.