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Dearborn Heights study session reviews $67.5 million budget and proposed staff pay increases
Summary
At a Dearborn Heights City Council study session, the comptroller outlined proposed personnel increases across departments, line‑item shifts in fire and HR accounts, and a plan to replenish the fund balance by about $1.5 million; councilmembers asked clarifying questions but no formal votes were taken.
Comptroller Baiduen led a review of the City of Dearborn Heights’ corporate fund proposed budget, detailing multiple personnel salary adjustments and line‑item shifts he described as part of a slim, fiscally constrained plan to replenish the city’s fund balance.
The comptroller said the recommended package includes salary increases for nonunion staff across departments — examples he listed included raising the probation director to $70,000, increasing an executive secretary’s pay from $58,445 to $63,000 and moving the GIS coordinator from $71,400 to $80,000 — and reallocating funds within department budgets to address operating priorities. “We are going to go through the budget, highlighting the changes that were requested throughout the budget study sessions,” he said.
Why it matters: the recommended budget seeks to rebuild reserves and keep the city operating next year. The comptroller said the plan aims to replenish the fund balance by approximately $1,500,000 to help offset what he described as a continuing deficit under the prior administration. “We are looking to replenish the fund balance by approximately $1,500,000,” he said, adding the overall budget needs are about $67.5 million.
Key details and department changes - Personnel: The review listed raises for positions in district court, the clerk’s office, parks and recreation and public safety. The comptroller confirmed the increases described are for full‑time nonunion employees and were intended as cost‑of‑living or retention adjustments; union raises remain subject to negotiation.
- Clerk and elections: The clerk originally requested $18,000 for part‑time election help; the recommended figure in the study session was $9,000.
- Fire department: Councilmembers and staff discussed moving $50,000–$75,000 from a clothing account into repairs and maintenance for the fire department; printed copies showed inconsistent figures but members agreed the net effect in the recommended column was effectively a wash.
- Library and IT: A part‑time IT worker in the library is proposed to become full time and split duties with City Hall, increasing hospital insurance costs and affecting the library contingency line.
Council questions and public input Council members asked routine clarifying questions about which offices the positions report to and where specific line items appear in the packet; one councilmember asked whether the executive secretary position referenced was in the police chief’s office, and the comptroller confirmed the chief was Janet Lucas. The chair opened the floor for public comment; no members of the public spoke in person or on Zoom.
Next steps and context No formal vote occurred during the study session. Councilmembers thanked the comptroller and staff for the work; the chair announced the public portion had ended and that the meeting would move to a closed session in five minutes. The study session transcript reflects proposed changes and does not record final approvals or enacted ordinance language.
