City May Approve Budget Increase for Dearborn Historical Museum

After a year of operating with a minimal budget, the Dearborn Historical Museum may have more room to grow its programs during the 2013-2014 fiscal year.

Jack Tate, the museum's chief curator, proposed a budget of $311,000 for the upcoming fiscal year to city officials at a budget hearing on May 15.

Tate said the museum is asking for a $225,000 subsidy out of the city's general fund for the next five years. The museum also wants to draw $30,000 out of the Lizzie Ross Fund for porch repairs, leaving nearly $860,000 in the account. The Ross Fund was established through the city's sale of property to Andiamo Italian Steakhouse.

Tate said the museum is hoping to raise $50,000 in grants during the upcoming fiscal year. In addition, he is projecting revenues for 2013-14 at $124,865 through funding from memberships, special events, sales, and support from the Museum Guild. Expenditures for the museum are projected at $295,588.

Tate also outlined the museum's five-year plan for the McFadden-Ross House, Gardner House, Commandant’s Quarters and the administration building to the council. He said an audit by the Michigan State Historical Society shows that the museum should be able to raise at least one-third of its revenue in the next five years.

In order to do that, Tate said operations at the museum have been streamlined. He said the museum has two part-time employees and uses mostly volunteers and interns in the community. It is also supported by events organized by the Museum Guild.

Tate is particularly proud of the revamped partnership with Dearborn Public Schools.

"We've already had 1,400 second graders come through the museum this year, and we still have eight more sessions to go," he said. "We are working with the elementary school teachers to make the program interesting while providing useful information required by the school's curriculum."

The museum's Sports Legacy exhibit that opened on April 6 has been visited by 150 patrons, and the annual banjo concert held during the third week in April had roughly 72 attendees, Tate said.

"I don't like to have a lot of pokers in the fire. The things we're doing, we're doing well, and I think the city and council recognize that fact," Tate said.

One of the museum's newest projects has been connecting with supporters online through its Facebook page, blog, and other digital media websites.

"We have 430 fans on Facebook, which is very promising," Tate said. "We're trying to take advantage of as many new methods of communication as we can."

The museum's budget for the current fiscal year is roughly of $176,530, $122,708 of which is covered by funds raised through memberships and donations.

The Dearborn City Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the city’s fiscal year 2014 budget at 6:30 p.m. May 23 in the city council chambers at city hall.

The public is invited to give comments and ask questions about the proposed budget at this hearing. The council is scheduled to adopt the proposed budget at a public meeting at 7 p.m. on May 28 in the city council chambers.