Voters Decide Funding for Dearborn Services Nov. 8
If you still need more information about the three proposals on the ballot Tuesday, Dearborn officials have sent out two handy links that explain what they mean.
Proposals on the Nov. 8 ballot ask voters to make decisions about temporarily increasing the funding for City services and authorizing a dedicated source of revenue for the library system.
Proposal One asks voters to temporarily increase the millage rate for city services by no more than 3.5 mills for no more than 5 years.
The temporary tax rate would cost the owner of an averageDearbornhome about $187 more a year, if fully levied. The City has lost revenue for basic services because of sharp declines in property values and other economic factors.
Proposal Two asks voters to approve a one-mill increase to fund library services for up to 10 years.
A third ballot proposal asks voters to decide if the Civil Service System, which applies to certain City of Dearborn employees, should be eliminated from the City Charter.
To find out more, click http://www.cityofdearborn.org/government/city-services/public-information/latest-news/688-voters-asked-to-decide-funding-for-city-services
To view a League of Women Voters forum featuring Mayor O’Reilly talking about the temporary tax rate increase, the library funding measure and Proposal 3, click http://www.cityofdearborn.org/government/city-services/public-information/latest-news/684-learn-about-ballot-proposals-by-watching-cdtv
Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday. For election information, call the City Clerk’s Office at 943-2032.
November 5th, 2011 at 10:50 am
Mr. Deep, thanks for your work posting this helpful information. Our city needs to have some of the revenue restored, just to pay for basic services. The increase in the tax rate is only going to restore about a third of the revenue that has been lost to dropping property values, but we need to approve both tax proposals to keep our city functioning. We need to vote YES for the tax proposals.
November 5th, 2011 at 10:34 pm
Civil service needs to stay in place. It’s the best way to keep everyone honest. It’s not to imply evil intent by city hall but there is no need to change the current system because it works well. There is no economic benefit to changing the system. An independent commission and director who are not dependent on city hall keeps everyone honest in the jobs hiring process. Look at Wayne County. Who wants to risk that? Keep it clean.
November 6th, 2011 at 8:08 am
Deep you seem to be a shill for Big Jack, what is your personal interest in this? Could it be a position, or a Commission seat?
November 6th, 2011 at 8:46 am
Mario: my interest is maintaining what we have in Dearborn. I will be the first to say that today’s Council isn’t the smartest bunch. However, this election is about keeping what we have today. We can send a message to our elected officials in the next election.
November 6th, 2011 at 9:52 am
This so-called Dearborn Citizen sounds like one of the big fellas cronies. Once again VOTE NO on the proposals 1 & 2.
November 6th, 2011 at 7:28 pm
If we vote down proposals 1& 2, Dearborn will begin the inexorable slide down to what Detroit and Highland Park have become. I am a Dearborn DPW worker and yes, I certainly have a vested interest in these proposals passing.But I’ve also lived here for 49 years and remember how great our services used to be. To maintain a semblance of those vaunted services will keep Dearborn desirable and stave off rapid decay that would ensue if they degraded just a bit. I can assure you, our basic services are stretched to the limit and the DPW is working very hard with minimal staffing. We need these millages to stay afloat. I’m not the mayor’s lackey but a worried citizen and city worker who doesn’t want his city to sslide into oblivion.
November 6th, 2011 at 8:24 pm
Ali, I am definitely not a crony of the Mayor. I don’t even support him. So, why do you insist on attacking the messenger, and not the message? Tell me ONE logical reason for bankrupting Dearborn. I didn’t think so. If we don’t approve the tax proposals we are in for a terrible several years. What is to be gained by going bankrupt?
November 7th, 2011 at 7:01 am
There is NO guarantee that we will keep the services we have now.
November 8th, 2011 at 11:18 am
voted. voter #49. Get out there people!
November 8th, 2011 at 3:51 pm
Voting “No” on 1 and 2 is simply an application for your home’s equity Death Certificate. “Yes” will assure Dearborn survives this financial crisis and keeps services alive. Without the passage of 1 and 2, our home values won’t have a chance. Who would want to move to Dearborn or stay in Dearborn if they could get the same level of safety and service in, let’s say, Inkster.