加州斯托克顿市已获批破产保护
[p=30, 2, left][font=宋体, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=14px][font=simsun][font=simsun][font=simsun][font=simsun][font=simsun][font=simsun][font=simsun][font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma][size=12px][b]A judge has approved the California city of Stockton's bankruptcy filing, making it the most populous US city ever to enter bankruptcy protection.[/b][/size][/font][font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma][size=12px][b]美国一位法官批准了加州斯托克顿市的破产申请，该市成为美国史上人口最稠密的破产之城。[/b][/size][/font]
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[color=#0000FF]Stockton's unemployment and violent crime rates now rank among the top in the nation.[/color]
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[font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma][size=12px]A federal judge said without bankruptcy protection, Stockton would be unable to provide basic government services.[/size][/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma][size=12px]The city of 290,000, 90 miles (144km) east of San Francisco, saw its tax base [b]plummet（骤然下降）[/b] in the US housing [url=http://www.enread.com/news/business/92311.html]market[/url] crash.[/size][/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma][size=12px]The ruling grants Stockton protection from creditors - who opposed the filing - while it negotiates debt repayment.[/size][/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma][size=12px]Stockton's creditors - bond holders and insurers who had financed the city's debt - argued the city had not cut spending enough nor sought a tax increase to avoid bankruptcy. With the city now in bankruptcy, they may not be repaid their full principals.[/size][/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma][size=12px]But lawyers for the city said it had slashed its budget to the bone after a 70% decline in the city's tax base. [/size][/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma][size=12px]The California city first filed for bankruptcy in June 2012 after failing to come to an agreement with its creditors. The judge came to his decision on Monday after a three-day trial.[/size][/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma][size=12px]"It's unfortunate that we have been forced to spend millions of dollars, thousands of hours and almost a year on this effort," city manager Bob Deis said, referring to the fight with creditors who opposed the [url=http://www.enread.com/news/business/92311.html]bankruptcy[/url] filing.[/size][/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma][size=12px]"These are valuable resources and money that could have gone toward addressing the critical safety needs of our community, restoring services, and paying our creditors."[/size][/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma][size=12px]During the housing boom, the city developed its waterfront, with a new marina and sports complex, and negotiated generous pension and healthcare benefits for city employees.[/size][/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma][size=12px]But when the housing market crashed beginning in 2008, the city's revenue sank when a rush of home[b]foreclosures（取消抵押品赎回权）[/b] caused a dip in property taxes and developer fees. [/size][/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma][size=12px]Officials were forced to make dramatic spending cuts to patch a budget deficit - roughly $26m (£17m) this year. The city eliminated a quarter of its police officers, one third of the fire department staff and 40% of all other employees. It also cut wages and medical benefits.[/size][/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma][size=12px]Stockton's unemployment and violent crime rates now rank among the worst in the nation.[/size][/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma][size=12px]The city's case was being watched closely by other struggling US cities and towns that may also seek bankruptcy protection.[/size][/font]
[font=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma][size=12px]Stockton's largest debt is $900m owed to the California Public Employees' Retirement System to cover pension promises. The city has kept up with pension payments at the expense of other [url=http://www.enread.com/news/business/92311.html]debt[/url], arguing it needs a strong pension plan to retain its workforce.[/size][/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][/size][/font][/p][p=30, 2, left][font=simsun][size=14px][font=simsun][font=simsun][font=simsun][font=simsun][font=simsun][font=simsun]更多[/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][/size][/font][url=http://www.enread.com/news/index.html][font=simsun][font=simsun][font=simsun][font=simsun][font=simsun][font=simsun][font=simsun][font=simsun][font=simsun][font=simsun][font=simsun][font=simsun][font=simsun][font=simsun][font=simsun][font=宋体, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=24px][color=#ED1C24][b]英语新[/b][/color][/size][/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][/url][url=http://www.enread.com/news/index.html][font=simsun][font=simsun][font=simsun][font=simsun][font=simsun][font=simsun][font=simsun][font=simsun][font=simsun][font=simsun][font=simsun][font=simsun][font=simsun][font=simsun][font=simsun][color=#ED1C24][size=24px][b]闻[/b][/size][/color][/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][/font][/url][/p] :qq79]
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