Detroit City Council

Battle heats up between council, Bing over budget deal

The blame game between Detroit City Council and Mayor Dave Bing continued today over the 2011-12 budget, with only nine days left to reach a compromise to save summer festivals, police and firefighter jobs, recreation centers, the People Mover and bus service on Sundays and holidays.

A day before the council may entertain a compromise with the mayor, some council members blasted Bing's administration for urging residents to call council offices and demand that money be restored to save the services.

By an 8-1 vote earlier this month, the council cut an additional $50 million from the $3.1 billion budget over the protests of the mayor, who said the reductions would devastate services and accelerate the residential exodus.

But council members said only the mayor has the authority to determine which services are cut to absorb the $50 million in reductions, so his administration is misleading the public about who is responsible for eliminating specific services.

"It's a lie, and they know it's a lie," Councilwoman JoAnn Watson said.

Added Council President Charles Pugh: "It's a spit in the face for all of the hard work we do."

But council didn't mention they cut $8.3 million from the police department, $4.1 million from the fire department, $7.8 from the city's Department of Transportation and $7.5 million from the Parks and Recreation Department.

Bing opposed those cuts, saying they give him no choice but to eliminate critical services.

The latest verbal jabs underscore an increasingly toxic relationship between the mayor and council, both of whom rarely communicate anymore, both sides said.

Bing's office couldn't be reached for comment.

Contact Steve Neavling: sneavling@freepress.com .