So after all the debating on what will stay or go in Dearborn because of a massive budget shortfall, it all comes back to residents.

In November, residents will be asked to approve a tax increase of 30 percent. There will not be a referendum on City Charter mandates for police and fire staffing. Those will be untouched.

Our elected council members voted unanimously (minus Suzanne Sareini who was absent) to put on the ballot proposals to raise the city’s general operating millage 3.5 mills.

In addition, perhaps a bit of good news, there will be a dedicated millage of 1 mill to fund the city’s library system.

According to the Dearborn Press & Guide, the millage proposals are expected to generate roughly $15.8 million in revenue; $12.25 million for the general operating millage and $3.5 million for the library system. Worth noting is that the library millage does not mean all branches will remain open, according to Councilman Brian O’Donnell.

The operating millage hike can be collected for no more than five years, at which point the millage would expire. The library millage would be for 10 years.

The Council also approved placing four advisory questions on the ballot on specific city operations, including curbside loose-leaf pickup, the Dearborn Historical Commission, the library system, and city pools. These questions would be used as input in future city budget processes, but do not have any legally binding effect.

It isn’t quite clear why those ballot questions are really needed, considering the City spent money recently to hire a private firm to mail questionnaires to 2,000 residents where similar questions appeared.

The Press and Guide reports that Council members were split on resolutions to put forth ballot questions that would eliminate minimum police and fire staffing as currently mandated by the City Charter. The minimum staffing questions, which needed at least five “yes” votes, went down by a 3-2 vote, with Councilmen David Bazzy and Brian O’Donnell voting against it. In favor were Council President Thomas Tafelski and Councilmen Robert Abraham and Mark Shooshanian.

For unknown reasons, Councilwoman Nancy Hubbard, left the meeting without explanation before the votes were taken, the paper reports, and after the meeting, was seen outside City Hall . . .