Weekend Economists Examine Escape Artists and Con Men April 27-29, 2012

[Demeter]

69. Rochelle Riley: Detroit's budget too tight to run November election?

THAT'S OKAY, JUST THINK OF THE TIME AND MONEY THEY WILL SAVE!

DETROIT IS MY BIRTHPLACE, BUT YOU WOULDN'T RECOGNIZE THE GRAND DAME. THE KEVORKIAN GOVERNOR SNYDER AND MAYOR/ENTREPRENEUR DAVID BING ARE TRYING TO PUT HER DOWN FOR GOOD...WHY? WHAT'S THEIR ANGLE, THEIR STING, THEIR CON?

http://www.freep.com/article/20120417/COL10/204170402/Rochelle-Riley-Detroit-s-budget-too-tight-to-run-November-election-

Complaints were expected. But what happens when budget cuts and the law collide?

(Detroit City Clerk Janice) Winfrey, much of whose job is defined by law, may have a point. It's not like you can instantaneously reduce the number of polling places or not print ballots. Not in America.

Bing's proposal would cut the elections department budget from $7.4 million to $5 million and the presidential election budget from a requested $1.2 million to $737,000, according to elections officials. Winfrey spent $1.49 million on the 2008 election when President Barack Obama won the White House with the help of one of every two eligible Detroit voters.

Winfrey says she plans to talk with Michigan Secretary of Ruth Johnson to determine how she can meet voter needs, save money and follow the law.

City Chief Operations Officer Chris Brown said the mayor's staff would be "happy to reconsider the Clerk's Office budget to comply with federal election law, but we're making these cuts across the board.

"We realize the pressure the city clerk and other departments are under, but there are opportunities to consolidate and save," he said. "The mayor's office is cutting 25% of its budget. This is about shared sacrifice."

Winfrey, undeterred, said if the choice is to follow the law or the mayor, "I'm going to follow the law."

The city population is smaller, she said, "but the number of voters is the number of voters. We expect 65% turnout this year. We had over 50% four years ago."