Add Royal Oak Township and the City of Highland Park to the growing list of municipalities in Michigan being scrutinized by the state’s treasury department. The department began preliminary reviews for both local governments Monday.
This is the first step in the process that can result in an emergency manager.
There are nine local governments and five public school districts whose finances are bad enough they’re operating under some kind of state oversight.
Royal Oak Township and Highland Park are behind on payments to their pension funds. The treasury department says neither has followed plans to get rid of their deficits.
If treasury officials find either municipality is in “probable financial stress” then the local units have four options to choose from, including an emergency manager.