Opinion ID: 2031531
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: conflict of provisions

Text: The Court of Appeals found that the provisions of § 8-211 were in conflict with those of the UBAA; accordingly, it found that Detroit Charter, § 8-211 was void to the extent that it imposed greater requirements than UBAA, § 17 in an impending budget deficit situation. 153 Mich App 604. We find no conflict because our construction of § 17 of the UBAA is perfectly consistent with our construction of § 8-211 of the Detroit Charter. The purpose of § 17 of the UBAA is to mandate a balanced budget. Its terms do not expressly specify whether the council may amend proposals submitted by the mayor, nor do they specify whether the mayor has veto power over any amendments adopted by the city council. On the other hand, § 8-211 of the city charter is primarily a procedural provision that specifies the process by which the city budget may be amended during the course of a fiscal year. Thus, although our construction of § 17 of the UBAA is consistent with our interpretation of the city charter, we find that to the extent § 17 is nonspecific the provisions of the city charter should dictate the procedures by which the budget should be amended in the event of an impending budget deficit. The charter provision in question neither permits what the UBAA prohibits nor does it prohibit what the UBAA permits. This precludes a finding of direct conflict between the statute and the charter provision. See Builders Ass'n v Detroit, 295 Mich 272, 277; 294 NW 677 (1940). See also Walsh v River Rouge, 385 Mich 623, 637; 189 NW2d 318 (1971); Miller v Fabius Twp Bd, 366 Mich 250, 258; 114 NW2d 205 (1962). Finding no conflict between the provisions of the UBAA and those of the Detroit Charter, we hold that the two provisions may be read together in harmony in the event that it becomes apparent during a fiscal year that the budget for the City of Detroit will not balance. [6] It becomes the responsibility of the mayor to submit proposals that will prevent deficit spending. The council may either accept or reject the proposals, but the council may not initiate budget amendment proposals during a fiscal year, nor may it amend those submitted by the mayor. Therefore, we hold that the separation of powers and duties set forth in the city charter providing that the council may accept or reject the recommendations submitted by the mayor is not inconsistent with the UBAA.