The longest-running car show in metro Detroit may be coming to a halt following next weekend’s event in Macomb County.

The Pat Moran Chevrolet Mount Clemens Cruise is scheduled to take over the city’s downtown for the June 6-7 event with a variety of displays, activities, and plenty of automobiles.

But budget cuts in city’s ancillary funding and a decrease in business contributions could spell an end for the family-friendly event that kicks off the classic car cruise season in Macomb County, according to one of the event’s founders.

Steve Charlie, the longtime spokesman for the nonprofit organization called Friends of Mount Clemens, said the cruise lost thousands of dollars it was expecting to receive — as it has in the past — from the city of Mount Clemens.

“I’d hate to see it come to an end, but if we don’t get some major help soon, I don’t see how we can keep it going into next year,” he said. “Chances are, it’s the cruise’s last year.”

Now in its 33rd year, the cruise typically brings in hundreds of hot rods, classic cars, vintage vehicles and motorcycles — and the people who love the vehicles.

According to Charlie, the cruise usually has an $18,000 budget. After the group pays its bills and expenses, the remaining proceeds from the car show are donated to a variety of local charities.

The Clinton Township resident said the Mount Clemens Downtown Development Authority for years has paid for city workers to set up barricades around the city, as well as footing the bill for the cruise’s entertainment and other expenses.

Because of the reductions, the Friends of Mount Clemens are looking at a possible $8,000 shortfall in the overall expenses, Charlie said. In addition, he added, the group is wrestling with “skyrocketing” costs.

But Michelle Weiss of the DDA said Charlie’s concerns are a bit overblown. She is confident the event will move ahead, even if some of the Friends of Mount Clemens year-end donations to charities are curtailed.

Weiss said the DDA is giving the cruise $5,000 instead of $7,000 because of overall cuts to her events budget. The DDA still pays for the stage, entertainers, DPW crews, and portable restrooms.

“If the friends are unable to make a donation to the Christmas parade and other charitable causes, we completely understand,” she said. “We all love the cruise and all it brings to Mount Clemens, where they give us donations or not.”

Over the past three decades, the group has donated $150,000 worth of its profits to different charities, including the Macomb Food Program, Turning Point, Salvation Army, Mount Clemens Kiwanis Club, and others.

Data collected by the DDA shows the Mount Clemens Cruise brings in the most people to the city, along with the annual Independence Day fireworks show and the Christmas Parade.

Several years ago, the group approached the Pat Moran dealership about becoming a presenting sponsor. The civic-minded car veteran jumped on the board, but “we can’t keep going to that well,” Charlie said.

He also said the friends group typically goes around to various downtown business seeking donations. Where in the past, a business may have chipped in $500, they are now giving $100, perhaps because of a road construction project that has stifled customers from patronizing local shops and eateries.

Other business types who serve on the Friends of Mount Clemens board, such as Ty Love said “it’s very sad” about budget reductions confronting the group.

“The wind really took the wind out of our sail,” he said. “It’s kind of depressing.”

Still, Love — the CEO at Xpert Office Solutions — is hopeful the business community will eventually chip in to keep the cruise alive.

“We really want to keep it going. At the end of the day, we feel really good about this event,” he said.

The DDA’s Weiss agreed gearheads will not be left behind.

“The cruise will be back and will keep entertaining the people who love classic cars,” she said.