State Senator Mary Cavanagh (D-Redford Twp.) has introduced legislation that would repeal Michigan’s emergency manager law. It allows the state to appoint managers to take charge of financially distressed cities and school districts.
Under Senate Bill 929, emergency managers have broad powers to override elected officials, amend budgets, and break contracts.
There are no current emergency managers, but Cavanagh said in the past, many of the affected cities and school districts were low-income and majority-Black areas. She said instead of restoring resources and stability, emergency management has undermined local democracy, eroded municipal autonomy, and stripped communities of viable resources.
“Michigan’s emergency manager law perpetuates that inequity — from selling off public assets for a fraction of their value, to forcing cities to dissolve entire school districts to leading Detroit Public Schools into a deeper deficit, and to the closure of dozens of school buildings in the city," Cavanagh said. "That’s why I’m proud to champion this bill that will restore autonomy to local municipalities and empower communities to make their own governing decisions.”
Emergency managers were in charge of the city of Detroit during its bankruptcy. A succession of emergency managers were also placed in charge of the city of Flint between 2012 and 2015. Some of them made financially motivated decisions to switch the drinking water supply to the Flint River, without utilizing proper corrosion control — leading to the Flint Water Crisis.
"Flint residents know firsthand how destructive the emergency manager law has been," said the Flint Mayor's office. "We unequivocally support Senate Bill 929 and would like to see immediate passage. This disingenuous law must be repealed. Rather than providing help, the Emergency Manager Law has severely undermined communities — stripping away assets, silencing local voices, and bargaining away our futures."
Other cities that were placed under the control of emergency managers:
- Pontiac: (2009–2013)
- Benton Harbor: (2010)
- Hamtramck: (2000)
- Ecorse: (2009)
- Allen Park: (2012)
- Highland Park: (2001)
School districts that have been under emergency managers:
- Detroit Public Schools (2009-2016)
- Muskegon Heights School District (2012-2016)
- Highland Park Schools (2012-2018)
