Benton Harbor mayor-elect works to bring city leaders together
City leaders in Benton Harbor are trying to come together after a turbulent couple of years under a state appointed emergency manager. The emergency manager was appointed to Benton Harbor in 2010 after...
View ArticleEmergency manager advice: “Don’t think that you have the answers”
In the last few weeks theres been a flurry of activity under the states new emergency manager law. Emergency managers now run 4 cities ( Benton Harbor , Flint , Pontiac and Ecorse ) and 1 school...
View ArticleBenton Harbor prepares for emergency manager exit in 2012
The City of Benton Harbors mayor is trying to start 2012 on the right foot after two years of turmoil under a state-appointed emergency manager. Elected leaders have almost no authority under the...
View ArticleIndependent audit of Benton Harbor’s finances reveals problems
The State Treasurers office is reviewing an independent audit of Benton Harbors finances for the 2011 fiscal year. The audit shows the city still spent more money than it made during its first year...
View ArticleTrying to sort out Emergency Manager limbo
The group Michigan Forward is collecting signatures to repeal the states Emergency Manager law. At last check they were up to 180,000. They only really need about 162,000, but theyre hoping to collect...
View ArticleForum highlights opposition to emergency manager law
Opponents of Michigans emergency manager law called it illegal, unconstitutional, and anti-democratic at a public forum Tuesday night. Detroit Congressman John Conyers hosted the often-passionate forum...
View ArticleEnd of Benton Harbor's financial emergency murky at best
In December Benton Harbors emergency manager said the citys finances were looking good enough that he could probably leave sometime this year. But now, hes not so sure. The City of Benton Harbor was,...
View ArticleBenton Township alleges Benton Harbor emergency manager defaulted on debt
When Benton Harbor Emergency Manager Joe Harris took over the City of Benton Harbor two years ago, the city owed money to a bunch of different agencies; the library, the public schools, and the IRS,...
View ArticleBenton Harbor emergency manager sells parkland he shouldn’t have
Updated 12:30p.m. - Scott Geerlings with Zeeland, Michigan based Geerlings Development Company says the company bought the parcel for around $102,000. Benton Harbors emergency manager has sold a piece...
View ArticleElected officials in Benton Harbor take steps to regain control of their city
A state appointee has run the cash-strapped city for more than two years. Former Governor Jennifer Granholm appointed Joe Harris the city’s emergency financial manager in March 2010. Now elected...
View ArticleBenton Harbor faces consequences after millage rejection
The City of Benton Harbor could face major staffing cuts after voters rejected a millage renewal this week. The cash-strapped city has been under the control of a state-appointed emergency financial...
View ArticleBenton Harbor emergency financial manager: “Citizens have to pay the piper”
Two weeks after voters in Benton Harbor rejected a millage renewal that represents about 20-percent of the city’s revenue, the city’s emergency financial manager is laying out a few grim options. EFM...
View ArticleBenton Harbor EFM will consider special fee to fund public safety
Benton Harbor Emergency Financial Manager Joe Harris will consider charging property owners a special fee to pay for the city’s police department. The decision comes two weeks after voters rejected a...
View ArticleBenton Harbor meetings to focus on public safety assessments
BENTON HARBOR, Mich. (AP) - Emergency financial manager Joe Harris says he plans to hold public hearings in Benton Harbor on whether a special assessment should replace an expired public safety...
View ArticlePeople in Benton Harbor want to save public safety department, but demand...
All the metal folding chairs in the building still weren't enough for the hundreds of residents who showed up at Tuesday night's public hearing. Benton Harbor’s Emergency Financial Manager Joe Harris...
View ArticleBenton Harbor’s emergency financial manager's days in charge appear numbered
Former Governor Jennifer Granholm appointed Joe Harris to run Benton Harbor’s dismal finances nearly three years ago. Then City Commissioner James Hightower supported the takeover when others didn’t....
View ArticleState replaces Harris as Benton Harbor emergency financial manager
BENTON HARBOR, Mich. (AP) - Joseph Harris is out as Benton Harbor's emergency financial manager. The Local Emergency Financial Assistance Loan Board on Friday voted to appoint Tony Saunders II to...
View ArticleState appoints young, fresh face to run Benton Harbor beginning next month
As expected, the state has replaced Benton Harbor’s emergency manager. Joe Harris has served as Benton Harbor’s emergency manager since former Governor Jennifer Granholm appointed him in March 2010....
View ArticleBenton Harbor’s emergency manager calls his departure 'bittersweet'
Benton Harbor Emergency Manager Joe Harris says he’s proud of his accomplishments in his nearly three years running the city. Harris said it was the most exciting job he’s ever had, describing his...
View ArticleDetroit insights from a numbers man
I have a lot of respect for Joe Harris, a man who knows the numbers, does what needs to be done and doesn’t try to sugarcoat the facts. He isn’t much of a politician, and he knows it. He tells it the...
View Article
