DEARBORN – After two meetings lasting more than six hours
combined on Monday and Tuesday nights filled with heated debates about proposed
cuts, the city’s budget for the 2011-2012 fiscal year was unanimously passed on
Tuesday, June 7.

A parking rate increase was also passed unanimously during
the hearings, which were packed with audience members, most of them white
t-shirt-clad members of the group “Save Our Pools,” which sprung up
last year to fight against pending closures.

The group, which has helped refurbish pools through
volunteer work and raised money through the selling of pool tags and other fund
raising events, managed to help essentially save one pool from the chopping
block this year.

The original proposed budget from May included pool closures
of Ten Eyck, Whitmore-Bolles and Hemlock Parks. The Ten Eyck location was
switched to Lapeer Park, in the south end of the city, in a surprise
announcement during Monday night’s hearing.

But the pool, which was recently filled by the city and
refurbished by more than 50 volunteers, most of them kids organized by SOP
members Ryan Woods and William Ali, will remain open for this summer while
Hemlock and Whitmore-Bolles will be “mothballed” as council members
described it.

Ali was thrilled after hearing the news that Lapeer would
remain open, especially considering the dearth of recreational options on the
south side.

“It was very good news, and now I look forward to
mobilizing with Save Our Pools and making a difference,” he said.

The pools may be in danger of closing in future years if
more funds are not raised but SOP organizer Mark Lane said the group has many
ideas for corporate sponsorships and other ideas to hopefully help make up for
costs.

Councilman Robert Abraham was among others who said the
energy and attention brought to the meetings by the SOP group was refreshing
and that he hoped the spirit of community activism could be carried on as the
city continues to face tough times.

The proposed budget was also amended to include $60,000
worth of cuts from the district court this week.

 But city
council members and Mayor Jack O’Reilly continued to espouse the theme of
shared sacrifice as the city continues to fight massive projected budget
deficits due to a declined tax base among other factors.

In addition to the pool closures, Snow Branch Library will
also be “mothballed” beginning on July 1 and the city’s health
department will close by the end of June.

Paid parking meter rates of all kinds will increase to $1.00
an hour for premium, 75 cents for standard and 50 cents for discount.

According to Councilman David W. Bazzy, 42 employees will be
eliminated because of closures and layoffs and 23 others have agreed to sign up
for early-outs.

The pending, expected $6 million sale of Dearborn Towers, a
large, longtime city-owned complex in Florida for retirees, also was factored
into this year’s budget, which includes an expenditures total that is projected
to be $6,276,535 greater than revenues.

To view budget statistics and information about other
issues, visit www.cityofdearborn.org. 

Health department shutdown could have dramatic effect 

The Dearborn Health Department, located in the lower level
of Henry Ford Centennial Library, will be shut down by the end of the month due
to the new budget. Operating since 1960, it is one of the last remaining
city-managed health authorities in the state.

Offering aid such as flu shots, travel shots, blood pressure
checks and more, the department has been a resource for 12,000-15,000 residents
on a yearly basis. The patients, many of who range from senior citizens,
immigrants and non-insured, would likely need to relocate to the Wayne County
Health Department on Van Born in Wayne.

The elimination will result in the layoffs of a part time
director, a full time nurse, three part time nurses and a part time doctor, who
all received their warnings just last week. The move is expected to save the
city about $170,000 per year, according to Dearborn Finance Director Jim
O’Connor.