Detroit Free Press: Local leaders divided on emergency manager law, U-M survey finds

By Cindy Heflin Associate news director

Posted on Mon, Sep 24, 2012 : 8:14 a.m.

Local government leaders in Michigan are split in their opinions of the state’s emergency manager law, according to a University of Michigan survey, the Detroit Free Press reported.

Rick Snyder

AP photo

The survey, conducted by the Ford School of Public Policy found 38 percent of local leaders support the law while 30 percent oppose it, the newspaper reported. The survey found that 21 percent are neutral on the law and 11 percent are undecided. More appointed leaders than elected ones are behind the law.

The law, passed in 2001, has been suspended since a referendum on it was approved for the Nov. ballot. An older law is in effect for the moment.

The controversial law gives broad authority, including the ability to break union contracts, to managers appointed to oversee struggling school districts and municipalities. Gov. Rick Snyder says managers need such authority to fix serious financial problems.

Read the article in the Detroit Free Press.