On Monday, a team of financial experts will visit Allen Park to determine how the state of Michigan will deal with the city of 28,000: Should it enter into a consent degree with the state or get an outside emergency manager?
The city is in trouble because of recession and a $31 million investment in 2009 in a failed film studio project. The prospect of moviemakers in Allen Park had city council members singing "Hooray for Hollywood" at one their public meetings.
According to a story in the Detroit News by Kim Kozlowski, Allen Park is tapping its general fund to cover bond payments and other debts resulting from declining property tax revenues as it tries to slash a $6 million deficit. Possible cuts include massive layoffs of police and fire officials, scaling back use of its civic center and other city services.
Allen Park is the first middle-income, predominantly white community to undergo a review.
