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Politics & Government

Dearborn Budget 2013: What You Need to Know

A public hearing on the budget will take place May 14 at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at Dearborn City Hall.

Dearborn city leaders have been meeting for several months to discuss the details of the fiscal year 2013 budget, which begins July 1.

On May 14 at 6 p.m. at , Dearborn residents will be given a chance to express their concerns about the proposed 2013 budget.

Think the city needs to make more spending cuts? Want to know why certain capital improvements are being made? Don't want to see the voter-approved 3.5 mill increase enacted? This is the time to speak up.

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Here's what you need to know as Dearborn heads into another budgetary year. Click the links to read more details about specific budgetary discussions.

Expenditures Outpace Revenues

Even if the Dearborn City Council levies the , the fiscal year 2013 as proposed by Mayor Jack O'Reilly still stands at $8.4 million over projected revenues.

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This is due, in large part, to a combination of rising personnel costs–including pensions and health care expenses–and continued drops in the taxable values of property. From 2011 to 2012 alone, taxable value in Dearborn has dropped 6 percent.

The property value that generated $1 of tax revenue for the city in 2008 will generate 73 cents in 2013.

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No Facilities Will Close in 2013

Although expenses continue to rise, O'Reilly has maintained that .

Instead, the city has pushed for alternative funding options for several facilities–as well as .

The Museum Guild of Dearborn has been charged with the task of raising funds to cover the 's costs by 2015 .

City Council also recommended that the –which has seen –focus on ensuring that lawbreakers either pay their fines, or enter into the alternative work program.

The city's six small pools–two of which have not been open since 2010–are hoped to be , which would place operating and improvement costs in the hands of the households surrounding the pools.

However, that plan has stalled with about how the plan will be implemented, as well as concerns about the proposed 2013 budget.

In 2012, budget cuts led to the shuttering of two city pools, one library, and the entire Health Department. It was projected in 2011 that all small pools and the remaining two branch libraries, as well as the , and one would close by 2015 if no additional revenue was realized.

It's possible that more closures could be on the way in future years if revenues remain stagnant.

Police, Fire Budgets Are Mostly Untouchable

Public safety positions currently make up 51 percent of the city's full-time staff. In both the police and fire departments, personnel costs account for around 90 percent of expenditures.

In budget talks, Dearborn City Council nitpicked over numbers, including the , and the costs of putting police officers through training.

But with minimum staffing provisions still in place, the biggest savings will come only through union negotiations, which are currently ongoing. Several City Council members have voiced opinions that for the city to make progress toward financial stability.

Dearborn Will be Broke by 2015

Mayor O'Reilly agrees that cutting personnel costs are a major part of the answer to Dearborn's budget woes, but how those cuts are implemented remains to be seen.

All city employees are being asked to contribute to a 10 percent cut in overall personnel costs. These sacrifices could come in many forms: A larger share of health care costs will be placed on employees thanks to new state mandates; three non-public safety positions were cut; and ongoing union negotiations are focusing on wage, salary or staffing cuts.

The bottom line is this: Without more revenue, or bigger cost cuts, Dearborn's general fund  within three years–even with a full 4.5 mill increase in taxes.

To view all proposed 2013 budget documents from the City of Dearborn, click here.

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