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City Council Frustrated By Mayor's Pace Dealing With Financial Problems

DETROIT (WWJ) - City Council members say they're frustrated with the slow pace of Mayor Dave Bing's plan to stave off an Emergency Manager.

WWJ's Florence Walton reports that council members met to address the question as to whether they should urge the mayor to implement a more aggressive plan to correct the city's financial problems.

Council President Pro Tem Gary Brown wants the city council to come up with a Plan B - one that restructures government, would privatize some city services and lay-off more than the 1000 workers that Mayor Bing has proposed.

"I differ in strategy - I believe in  and then if we get concessions with the union that we are asking for - if we get 100% of the concessions we are asking for then we can always bring the service back, " said Brown.

The council has 60 days to make recommendations that could stop Governor Snyder from bringing a financial manager to the city.

Others like councilwoman Saunteel Jenkins wants to start the annual budget review process early: "If you want to set priorities and talk about how we are spending money, and how departments should look like - I mean the budget will be here before we know it - and we actually have the power to do something."

Most on council agree that no matter what they propose it's up to the mayor to implement the plan.

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