There are several misconceptions about emergency manager laws in Michigan. Here are a few facts about the laws that have been around for years, and implemented in various cities around the state that are in financial crisis. The following information was obtained from Gov. Rick Snyder’s site: 

•  Emergency manager laws have been around for years, and the tool has been used by Democrat and Republican governors alike to solve problems in cities and school districts across Michigan.

•  Under Democrat Governor James Blanchard, two emergency managers were appointed, and under Democrat Governor Jennifer Granholm, seven emergency managers were appointed. In fact, Governor Granholm appointed the first emergency manager for Detroit Public Schools in 2009.

•  Emergency Financial Managers have been appointed in Royal Oak Township, Hamtramck, Highland Park, Flint, the Village of Three Oaks, Detroit Public Schools, Pontiac, Ecorse, Benton Harbor, Highland Park Schools, Muskegon Heights Schools and Allen Park.

•  State Treasurer Andy Dillon leads the effort to ensure that emergency financial managers are properly trained.Emergency financial managers are then accountable to both the governor and the Legislature, which in turn are both accountable to voters.

•  Though an emergency financial manager can take actions to void contracts to prevent a local government from going bankrupt, new agreements with workers could still be reached through the collective bargaining process.