LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- A Michigan official has heard a longshot appeal from Detroit council members who dispute the state's declaration that the city has no plan to adequately fix its fiscal crisis.
Council staff said Tuesday the state should stay the course and not give up on a consent agreement reached less than a year ago. A member of a review team countered there was a lack of enthusiasm among city officials to implement the deal.
Chief Deputy Treasurer Mary MacDowell presided as Gov. Rick Snyder's designee over the hearing in Lansing on Tuesday.
MacDowell is expected to report back to Snyder soon. He's expected to stand by his finding and appoint an emergency manager to oversee Detroit's finances.
The city has a deficit of $327 million and long-term debt topping $14 billion.
Outside the hearing, about two dozen protesters with the civil rights group Citizen's Action Network gathered.
One of them, the Rev. Charles Williams II, vowed no emergency manager would ever enter Detroit's city hall.
"We will not allow it there will be a human chain, there will be thousands there will be demonstration after demonstration...the gloves are off - if the governor wants to fight - come on down to the city of Detroit - we're ready to fight!" Williams said.