The chapter 9 case of San Bernardino, Calif., begins its fifth year today, and city officials say that it’s probably the final one, the San Bernardino Sun reported. San Bernardino filed for bankruptcy protection Aug. 1, 2012, swamped by a deficit of more than $45 million — equivalent to 40 percent of the $112 million in revenues the city expects this year — and fearing it wouldn’t be able to make payroll unless a bankruptcy judge stopped creditors from collecting their debts. That protection isn’t cheap: From 2012 until May 2016, the city spent $18.8 million on bankruptcy-related expenses — attorneys and consultants — according to one of those consultants, Teri Cable of Management Partners. Bankruptcy Judge Meredith Jury has scheduled a confirmation hearing for Oct. 14.
