Under the law, the county commission was given until Thursday to choose between a consent agreement, an emergency manager, a neutral evaluation, or Chapter 9 Bankruptcy.

He made the remarks during the 15-member panel’s committee of the whole meeting.

County Executive Warren Evans and state Treasurer Nick Khouri will have 30 days to negotiate a deal, but it is believed a draft for a deal already exists.

Commissioner Burton Leland, D-Detroit, said the panel’s realistic choices are limited. “Bankruptcy and emergency manager aren’t really options”.

A consent agreement was one of four options available after Gov. Rick Snyder confirmed a financial emergency. Such an agreement would spell out specific budgetary reforms the county would have to meet.

The consent decree would give the county the power to override union contracts if necessary to save money.

“Because I have a hammer doesn’t mean I have to drop it. I am interested in negotiating the contracts and, if there’s any wiggle, room in what is in the recovery plan and we can do it – I’m happy to do it”, he said.

Leaders of the county’s unions asked commissioners to consider how their decision will impact workers before they vote.

County commissioners voted 12-2 Thursday to allow state Treasury officials to take an active role in the fiscal restructuring of the county, which has 1.7 million residents and Detroit as its largest city. It faces a projected $171 million deficit by 2019 if remedial measures aren’t taken.