In other words, flinging your city's tax bill on the altruistic impulses of a wealthy businessman has limited success: People don't get rich by voluntarily paying up on obscure contract provisions the other side overlooked because of memory loss, personnel changes or a lack of paper in the printer.

Johnson Akinwusi who owned J.O.A. Construction took the stand to detail more pay to pay allegations. He closed the company in 2007 after suffering a stroke.

Akinwusi testified that he made a $10,000 contribution to the Kilpatrick Civic Fund after the ex-mayor's former chief of staff and lover, Christine Beatty asked him to give to the controversial non-profit. He also says he paid on a nearly $5,000 on a suit Kilpatrick had on layaway at a clothing store where both men shopped.

Akinwusi says the store owner suggested he pay the mayor's tab and write a letter to Kilpatrick detailing work his company had performed. Akinwusi had complained about work drying up under the new Kilpatrick administration.

Shortly after that, Akinwusi testified that he received a bid package in the mail for the Heilmann Recreation Center. He was directed to partner with Xcel Construction owned by Bobby Ferguson.

If it wasn't so sad that there are way too many people who think like Ms. Berman, the vapidness of her closing comment would be kind of funny.

Wouldn't future revenue collection be a terrific project for a SWAT team of business school graduates? Shouldn't there be a way to generate excitement and reward for fresh, highly educated, eager-to-prove-themselves young tax consultants who might cut their sharp teeth on Detroit's debtor delinquents?

There are bold and innovative ways to raise funds. But relying on the kindness of millionaires is not one of them.

Wouldn't it be much better for the city to have an abundance of private sector jobs at thriving businesses where those eager young business school graduates could use their talents and skills to contribute to a growing economy rather than be a tax collection SWAT team?