Warren Evans (file photo)
Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano left his successor, Warren Evans, with one big financial mess.
As a result, Evans announced Monday that he has ordered a spending freeze for county government, the Detroit Free Press reports.
"This is the first step to resolve the county's financial crisis," Evans said in a news release today. "It's critical we begin (to) take the necessary steps to solve our financial crisis and restore fiscal health. Reducing expenditures wherever possible must be our first priority."
Eric Lawrence of the Free Press reports that the order includes includes a hiring freeze to deal with a daunting future: The possibility that the count could run out of cash next year. It faces a $70-million structural deficit as well as a pension system that is only about 45% funded.
