City mgr.: Comptroller vote letter "informational" | News

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) -- Grand Rapids city manager Greg Sundstrom says it's illegal to use taxpayer money to encourage voters to support a ballot issue, but he says the city attorney assures him a letter residents received with their water bills this month is not a violation.

The letter says an amendment eliminating the elected comptrollers position will save the city money and modernize its financial structure.

If the amendment passes, the city manager will appoint someone to a combined comptroller-chief financial officer position.

Critics claim the amendment would take away a vote of the people and give the city manager more power.

Sundstrom says the letter cost taxpayers $1,800 to distribute, and it is strictly an informational message.