On June 8, during a Special Affairs Committee meeting, Flint City Council members challenged city officials over access to the city’s check registry, arguing that repeated requests for the records had gone unanswered.
The discussion centered on whether council members had been provided with the check registry: a record of city expenditures and payments. The check registry is usually available to the public on the City of Flint’s website, but the most recent visible registry is from June 2024.
Councilwoman Jerri Winfrey-Carter said they have yet to receive the check registry and that there may be reasons the council does not have access to it.
“We still haven’t received the check registry; I’ve never heard of such,” Carter said. “Cause it’s some things on that check registry that they don’t want us to see.”
During the meeting, Councilwoman Tonya Burns questioned Chief Financial Officer Philip Moore about whether the documents had been supplied to council members.
“Do you have the check registry?” Burns asked. When Moore responded, “No,” Burns continued to press city officials on why the records had not been provided.
Burns said council members had previously requested the information and cited Michigan’s Uniform Budgeting and Accounting Act to argue that the records should be made available to elected officials. She stated that obtaining the information was necessary for council members to perform their oversight responsibilities.
“So you were in violation of state law, you’re just not willing to give it to us,” Burns said during the exchange.
Moore said he is not in violation of state law.
“I follow the procedure of the city of Flint,” Moore said.
Burns said she had sent emails requesting the records and claimed she had contacted multiple city departments to obtain the information.
“I’ve asked the city attorney, the city administrator and I’ve got the city clerk. I want the check register,” Burns said.
Burns also objected to the suggestion that council members review the records in person rather than receive copies electronically. She argued that requiring council members to travel to city offices to view the documents created an unnecessary barrier to accessing public financial information.
Councilwoman Judy Priestley said that the check registry had previously been available on the city’s website and should remain accessible.
“That check registry was on the city website. And it still should be on that website,” Priestley said.
The debate occurred as council members considered amendments to the city’s purchasing code. Following the discussion, the committee voted to advance the matter for further consideration, with four yeses and four nos. Because the motion did not receive a majority vote, it failed.
Hello, I'm a Graphic Design student with a concentration in Marketing at the University of Michigan-Flint. My minor is Business. One of my passions is writing and sharing stories with others!
