Wayne County selects consent agreement to fix finances

With little discussion Thursday, Wayne County Commissioners approved a consent agreement with the state as an option to resolve its debt crisis.

“As we finalize the terms of the consent agreement with the state treasurer, we will continue in our commitment to negotiate in good-faith with our unions”, Evans said. The other choices were a state-appointed emergency manager, a neutral evaluation or Chapter 9 bankruptcy. “Bankruptcy and emergency manager aren’t really options”.

The commission must vote on the matter at its regularly-scheduled meeting Thursday, within seven days of the governor’s confirmation.

A consent agreement keeps authority in the hands of local officials, Evans said earlier this week in support of an agreement.

Leaders of the county’s unions asked commissioners to consider how their decision will impact workers before they vote.

That’s the recommendation of County Executive Warren Evans saying it’s the best of four options that the county is looking at in order to deal with the financial crunch. “If you go with a consent agreement, you take away our power to sit down and negotiate (a contract) on equal footing”.

Wayne County moved a step closer to addressing its financial woes head on.

Gov. Rick Snyder confirmed last month that a financial emergency existed in Wayne County, which faces a projected $171 million deficit by 2019 if remedial measures aren’t taken.

In addition, the county’s primary pension plan is 45 percent funded and has a liability of $910.5 million, based on the latest actuarial valuation.