The City of Dearborn is expected to close as many as six of the city’s aging outdoor pools as part of a cost cutting proposal to help the city this year with its $20 million budget shortfall.

The move most certainly will set off a firestorm of protests in the neighborhoods where pools are slated to be closed.

The last time the subject of closing pools came up, the council and mayor succumbed to neighborhood pressure and did nothing. But that was in an election year and now with the new term only three months old, the outcome likely will be different this time around.

The good news is that while pools will be closed, the proposal includes the construction of a larger, modern pool complex for Ford Woods Park, which will accommodate more swimmers and cost about half of the resources of keeping the six neighborhood pools operating, the city says in a press release.

The city says the difficult decision of closing smaller, neighborhood pools is expected to save $132,000 a year in operational costs alone. More significantly, the City claims it will save $3.8 million by not pursuing investments necessary to keep the six pools that are currently on the chopping block in a safe and healthy condition.

The city has not yet shared what pools will be closed, only saying that “as plans become more finalized, an informational meeting regarding the outdoor pool proposal will be held.”

The city does list what pools will receive improvements. The ones not listed would appear to be in jeopardy. Those include: Whitmore Bolles, Summer Stephens, Ten Eyck, Crowley, Hemlock and Lapeer.

City officials say it will continue to operate outdoor pools at Levagood and Ford Woods parks, and add summer swimming opportunities at three indoor pools inside Dearborn public schools, under a proposal developed by city officials this week. The proposal includes the permanent closure and demolition of the city’s six other aging outdoor pools, built decades ago in 1954, 1956 and 1962.

Ongoing operating costs and the significant investments required for the outdoor pools make this proposed change necessary for the 2010 summer season. The proposal regarding the outdoor pools is part of the budget review process being undertaken by Mayor John B. O’Reilly and his administration, together with the City Council.