Will Detroit Council Kill Eddie's Tunnel Dream
Here are two stories from Michigan Public Radio about the Tunnel deal that you might want to read and see how our Council will act in a similar case.
Now I am surprised frankly that Detroit Council is taking such a hard line. The Tunnel seems to be overvalued. That's great for Detroit since their deficit will be paid off but not so good for Windsor since Windsor taxpayers have to pay out all of that cash, US$75M. Where the heck has all of that money been hidden so that we can use it for a deal no one but a few at City Hall knew about? I don't remember it being discussed at Budget time.
There must be a Part 2 of this deal that Windsorites do not know about to raise that money. We know the Feds have been approached but it does not seem they are coming to the party since it has not been announced. We would have heard a leak already if they were in. (And if they do offer money, they have competition problems and Senate problems)
Moreover, the members of Detroit Council have this quaint notion that they should know about the deal before they sign off on it. "Irresponsible" was a word used.
How about Windsor's Council. The Mayor wants our Council to sign off on a deal, a business case study, without knowing anything. It is that poor a document.
Now I am surprised frankly that Detroit Council is taking such a hard line. The Tunnel seems to be overvalued. That's great for Detroit since their deficit will be paid off but not so good for Windsor since Windsor taxpayers have to pay out all of that cash, US$75M. Where the heck has all of that money been hidden so that we can use it for a deal no one but a few at City Hall knew about? I don't remember it being discussed at Budget time.
There must be a Part 2 of this deal that Windsorites do not know about to raise that money. We know the Feds have been approached but it does not seem they are coming to the party since it has not been announced. We would have heard a leak already if they were in. (And if they do offer money, they have competition problems and Senate problems)
Moreover, the members of Detroit Council have this quaint notion that they should know about the deal before they sign off on it. "Irresponsible" was a word used.
How about Windsor's Council. The Mayor wants our Council to sign off on a deal, a business case study, without knowing anything. It is that poor a document.
Check out the image above from the Administration Report....It means, Trust Us...sign on the dotted line today and we'll give you some information tomorrow.
In this case, the Report makes it clear that COUNCIL may see something, probably in camera, business confidentiality and all of that, but there is no guarantee that we poor taxpayers will.
Sounds a lot like the out of control and now further delayed East end arena procedure doesn't it? We had to rush quickly to move forward on it even without a contract and now we have a delay that may add in costs!
What a City!
Detroit Council OKs Budget Without Tunnel Deal
Sarah Hulett (2007-05-24)
The Detroit City Council approved a budget today that takes issue with the Mayor's plan to turn over ownership of the City's half of the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel.
The $75 million deal was a key part of Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's budget plan.It calls for turning ownership of Detroit's half of the tunnel over to a new authority run by board members from Detroit and Windsor. But no formal agreement is in place with the city of Windsor.
Council President Ken Cockrel says since it's not a done deal, the city should be prepared to sell bonds to make up for that revenue.
"And that would only become necessary in the event that, once we do get the documents on the tunnel deal, if we do deem that it's not viable and it doesn't look good for the city of Detroit, we would vote that down and then be in a position to plug that $58 million that would be left in the budget," says Cockrel.
$58 million is what the Kilpatrick administration estimates the city would net from the $75 million deal after fees.
Detroit Council to Vote to Override Budget Veto
Sarah Hulett (2007-06-04)
Detroit's mayor and city council remain at odds over a key budget question.
Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick wants to plug a $58 million hole in the city budget by leasing the city's half of the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel to a new authority. And he's vetoed a city council move to plug the hole by selling bonds instead.
City Council President Ken Cockrel Junior says he's not opposed to the mayor's plan. But he says he's skeptical the deal will be finalized in time for the beginning of the new fiscal year, July First.
"Given that this represents about $58 million of the coming fiscal year budget, to just go ahead and accept that this deal is going to be approved by Council at a later date, without really having seen any detailed paperwork on it, would in our opinion have been irresponsible," says Cockrel.
A vote to override the mayor's veto is expected tomorrow.
Detroit Council OKs Budget Without Tunnel Deal
Sarah Hulett (2007-05-24)
The Detroit City Council approved a budget today that takes issue with the Mayor's plan to turn over ownership of the City's half of the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel.
The $75 million deal was a key part of Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's budget plan.It calls for turning ownership of Detroit's half of the tunnel over to a new authority run by board members from Detroit and Windsor. But no formal agreement is in place with the city of Windsor.
Council President Ken Cockrel says since it's not a done deal, the city should be prepared to sell bonds to make up for that revenue.
"And that would only become necessary in the event that, once we do get the documents on the tunnel deal, if we do deem that it's not viable and it doesn't look good for the city of Detroit, we would vote that down and then be in a position to plug that $58 million that would be left in the budget," says Cockrel.
$58 million is what the Kilpatrick administration estimates the city would net from the $75 million deal after fees.
Detroit Council to Vote to Override Budget Veto
Sarah Hulett (2007-06-04)
Detroit's mayor and city council remain at odds over a key budget question.
Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick wants to plug a $58 million hole in the city budget by leasing the city's half of the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel to a new authority. And he's vetoed a city council move to plug the hole by selling bonds instead.
City Council President Ken Cockrel Junior says he's not opposed to the mayor's plan. But he says he's skeptical the deal will be finalized in time for the beginning of the new fiscal year, July First.
"Given that this represents about $58 million of the coming fiscal year budget, to just go ahead and accept that this deal is going to be approved by Council at a later date, without really having seen any detailed paperwork on it, would in our opinion have been irresponsible," says Cockrel.
A vote to override the mayor's veto is expected tomorrow.
posted by JoeBlog at 1:50 p.m.
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