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Politics & Government

Overview: Dearborn's 2013 Budget

A look at the major revenue and expense changing in the upcoming budget year, which begins July 1, 2012.

Following 20 budget meetings and a last-minute discussion about cutting $300,000 from the funding, the Dearborn City Council approved its fiscal year 2013 budget on Tuesday, May 29.

As approved, the 2013 budget estimates revenues at $99,936,241 and expenditures at $104,570,063. The total fund balance used is estimate at $4.633,822.

Here's a look at some of the major changes from 2012 to 2013:

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Staffing Cuts

Seven full-time positions were cut, and a total of 20 positions will not be filled out of 45 existing vacancies.

The cuts include an executive secretary from the , the city planner, a high pressure boiler operator, a building service maintenance mechanic, an administrative assistant, the superintendent, a custodian, and the director of the .

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Millage Rates Will Increase

The full 3.5 mills will be levied, as well as the one mill approved to fund the Dearborn Public Library.

The total tax rate for 2013 will stand at 26.86 mills, including 18.5 general operating mills; 1.94 garbage and rubbish mills; one library mill; 4.77 CSO mills; and .65 Civic Center mills.

Health Care Changes

All Dearborn city employees, as required by Public Act 152 of 2011, will now pay 20 percent of their health care premiums.

That change, effective July 1, will result in a $1.4 million savings across all departments.

Capital Improvement Cuts

A number of capital improvement projects were sliced from the FY 2013 budget.

Among the biggest cuts were a $13.5 million expense to build a new conference center, $4 million planned for a new aquatic facility at Ford Woods Park, and $3.6 million scheduled for renovations to the Rotunda baseball and softball fields.

19th District Court

The 19th District Court saw one of the biggest hits to their budget, with more than $300,000 in reductions added in since the originally proposed 2013 budget.

The biggest cut–accounting for $270,000 in savings–came from capping the total allowable general fund subsidy to the court.

It was a contested issue at the budget adoption meeting Tuesday night, but the version of the budget without the cut failed with a 5-2 vote.

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