Taylor Mayor Jeffrey Lamarand chose not to accept grant money
to re-hire laid off firefighters from the Federal Government because of the additional
unreimbursed costs the City could not afford.
City Council, however, forced him to accept the grant that the City
couldn’t afford.
The blame, according to columnist Nolan Finley, rests on the
City Council actively supporting the Firefighter’s Union instead of
concentrating on the goal of a responsible government.
The Federal government shares the blame as well, says
Finley. The country is running at a
deficit and the current administration says raising taxes is the only way to
balance the budget. And yet, FEMA – a
federal agency charged with handling disaster relief – has $8.1 million to force
on a City to pay for surplus firefighters it does not need or can afford.
The grant money is going to run out in two years – at which
point Taylor will have firefighters it won’t be able to pay – and the layoffs
will have to commence yet again. City
Council is simply kicking the can two years down the road.
Chris Frescoln, partner in charge of complex litigation at
Fausone Bohn, LLP, is representing the Mayor.
To read the original column, please visit:
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120816/OPINION03/208160330/Feds-rescue-Taylor-from-fiscal-discipline?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE%7Cs
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