Politics & Government
Dearborn Historical Museum Makes Big Cuts With Future Plans in Mind
The museum will fund nearly its entire operations starting in fiscal year 2013, with hopes to use extra funds to complete long-planned renovations.
A look at the fiscal year 2013 budget may lead Dearborn residents to believe that the is disappearing.
Not so, says the Museum Guild of Dearborn–the museum's fundraising arm. Instead, the department has pared down its budget by nearly $150,000 with an eye on saving up for the biggest renovation the museum has seen in years.
"Last year, council said, 'We’ll give you $100,000 and the rest will come from the Ross Account," said Guild president Richard Danes, referencing a pot of money from the sale of city property to Andiamo. "We had to find a way that we could stop bleeding from that account … and get the budget down to a point where we can handle it."
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The museum's proposed 2013 budget shows a total budget of $176,530, $122,708 of which is expected to be covered by funds raised by the guild through memberships and donations.
The total general fund subsidy to the department is $53,822–solely for the purpose of covering legacy costs of former employees.
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The department willingly cut its remaining full-time employee–Museum Curator Kirt Gross–as well as part-time employee funding. If the budget is approved as proposed, the museum will need to decide how to divy up the remaining $42,000 to fund remaining part-time positions.
At their budget discussion on Tuesday, Dearborn leaders seemed pleased with the drop in general fund dollars going to the museum.
“They’ve made a huge effort to demonstrate that they're willing to cover the operating costs," said Financial Director Jim O'Connor. "They do have the expectation that they’re going to come up with a financing plan and finish that exhibit space.”
The renovation would include several safety updates and add a new roof and façade to one side of their main office, which sits directly north of the McFadden-Ross House. Eventually, the museum hopes to use it for archive and gallery space.
The city has expressed the willingness to talk with the museum about possibly matching the funds needed for the completion of the renovation, which would come in around $325,000. That amount, however, is not currently included in the city's 2013 budget.
Danes said they'd be thrilled to have the city's help, but that the museum is prepared to move forward regardless, and has enough in the Ross Account to support at least the first phase of the renovation.
"We weren’t expecting (financial support)," he said. "If it happens, that’s great. But we’re prepared to go forward."
The guild is confident, but the City Council still wants to see proof that the museum can reach its fundraising goals before it agrees to any capital funding for renovations.
"Before substantial money is invested in completing that space, the museum … need to demonstrate that they can operate near or at revenue neutral,” Councilman Robert Abraham said.
City suggestions included unique fundraising ideas–such as turning the McFadden-Ross House into a bed and breakfast, or hosting a golf outing. Additionally, they suggested that the museum could eventually be completely volunteer run.
Danes said that having an all-volunteer staff would be difficult, and that the guild hopes instead to continue raising enough to eventually hire another full-time director.
"We have some plans," he said, "and we still haven’t gone out and talked to major businesses to see if we can get some pledges from them."
If the total $122,000 cannot be fundraised, the museum will likely be forced to dip into the Ross Account, or Guild reserves, to balance its budget.