Ferndale voters approve millage restoration, school bond proposal

FERNDALE — Two major proposals on the ballot in Ferndale during the May 6 election were approved by voters.

Voters in the city of Ferndale and the Ferndale Public Schools district approved their proposals for a millage restoration and bond, respectively.

Ferndale’s millage restoration proposal was approved with a little over 58% of the vote, according to the unofficial results. Of the 4,230 total votes, 2,455 approved the measure against 1,775 residents who voted no, which accounted for just under 42% of the total.

City Manager Colleen O’Toole thanked the residents for approving the millage and encouraged everyone, whether they voted for or against the proposal, to reach out and communicate with the city on issues.

“We still want to communicate to all residents, whether you supported the millage or not, that if you have questions or concerns, this is a very open and transparent City Hall,” she said. “They are always welcome to contact me or any member of our staff and we are really encouraging a culture of openness and spirit of transparency within the organization.”

The city’s restoration proposal was for 5.445 mills and will bring the city’s total rate to 16.3 mills. It will expire after 10 years.

According to Ferndale’s FAQ on the proposal, starting with the summer 2026 tax bill there will be a 5.4452 mill levy on the property tax bill. This will replace the current 4.2808 mill levy on the 2024 summer tax bill that is set to expire this year.

As the city is unable to levy a new millage for tax year 2025, this year Ferndale will levy about 15.4 mills and, in the first year of the new millage, the rate will be 16.3.

With the millage passing, O’Toole said Ferndale does not have to look at any staffing cuts and now can plan for repairs to several facilities.

“The condition at our DPW building and Fire Station #1, especially, are really rough,” she said. “We need to address the challenges inherent in those buildings for staff safety, for staff comfort, as well as just general upkeep. And I think that the community recognizes that we have an obligation to maintain what we put out, be it parks, be it our buildings, be it the streets, whatever they are serviced by, we have a fiduciary responsibility to be good stewards of those resources, and now we have the capacity, financially, to be able to do that.”

Ferndale Public Schools’ bond saw more support and more voters, as more than 70% of voters approved the proposal.

The district’s bond proposal was for $114.8 million, in which funds will be used to improve the Ferndale Middle School and High School buildings and athletic fields, a new academic wing to better separate the middle and high school spaces, upgraded band rooms, modernized classrooms and expanded common areas, safer entry points, and improved student services.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Ferndale community for once again showing strong support for our students and schools,” Superintendent Camille Hibbler said in a prepared statement. “This bond builds on the success of our 2020 initiative and brings long-overdue investment to our secondary learning environments.”

The question saw 5,228 voters voice their opinions on the ballot, with 3,665 voting to approve against 1,563 voting to reject the measure, according to the unofficial results.

The district said in a press release that the bond will support the “development of modern, flexible learning spaces and address long-standing facility needs while maintaining the current tax rate for residents.”

“This outcome reflects a shared vision for the future of Ferndale Public Schools,” Hibbler stated. “It is also a testament to the dedication of our families, staff, and community partners who engaged in meaningful dialogue and helped spread the word. We thank everyone who took the time to learn about the proposal and cast their vote.”

“This is a proud day for our district,” Board of Education President Sandra Dukhie added in a prepared statement. “The passage of this bond reaffirms that our community believes in the importance of strong public schools and is willing to invest in the spaces where students learn and grow. On behalf of the Board, I want to thank the community for their trust and partnership.”