DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Mich. – The city of Dearborn Heights averted a government shutdown Friday by passing a budget for the new fiscal year.
The deadline to pass the fiscal year 2024-2025 budget is Monday (July 1).
After three hours of meticulous deliberation and thoughtful discussion, council members successfully passed the budget, averting a potential government shutdown.
Some cuts were made, like police and fire overtime hours. They also removed a few city positions.
“Nobody wants to go into a shutdown because a bunch of adults who love this community couldn’t agree on a balanced budget,” Council Chair Mo Baydoun said during the meeting.
The shutdown would have suspended city services like trash pick up and administrative roles.
Under a shutdown, city employees would not be paid, and emergency response services could have been limited.
The passing of the budget was not without its share of disagreements. City council members and Mayor Bill Bazzi have been at odds over previous versions of the budget, reflecting the tension in the city’s leadership.
After the city council passed the budget, Bazzi told Local 4 his thoughts on the council’s changes.
“They made a lot of cuts that we probably have to go back and probably have to amend it,” Bazi said.