Politics & Government

Anti-Millage Protesters Gather at Nine Mile and Woodward

Demonstrators who oppose the millage that will appear on the May 3 ballot said taxes are too high already and that the city should tighten its belt and be more fiscally responsible.

At all four corners, and even in the median, protesters gathered Friday afternoon at Nine Mile Road and Woodward Avenue in Ferndale to show that they are voting no on the millage proposal on May 3.

Protest organizer Sean House, co-chair of , a group campaigning against the millage increase, said the goal of Friday's protest was to raise awareness about the issue.

"People don't know what is going on, what is happening," he said. House estimated that 20 to 25 people had shown up for the protest by 6 p.m. He said the demonstrators weren't all members of F.A.C.T. but that all were supporters. "We wanted to come out here on Tax Day and get the word out."

Find out what's happening in Ferndalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Tax Day usually falls on April 15, but because of a holiday in the District of Columbia, this year's deadline to file federal taxes is Monday.

Ferndale is facing a projected $2.3 million shortfall in its general fund for its next budgeting cycle. To fill the gap, the City Council approved a millage proposal recommended by the 12-member, council-appointed Financial Planning Committee, which comprised a member from each voting precinct and a business owner.

Find out what's happening in Ferndalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Ferndale residents will go to the polls May 3 to vote on a millage proposal that would raise the general operating tax rate . The millage would end Dec. 31, 2015.

"I'm just protesting against higher taxes," said Renee Murphy of Farmington Hills. Murphy said she found out about the protest from Campaign for Liberty, a organization with which House is associated.

Kevin Walker of Ferndale said taxes already are too high, and he doesn't want them higher. "Council hasn't been good stewards of our money, and it seems too quick to tax," he said.

"I'm here to hopefully stop the tax increase," resident Joe Verren said. "Taxation is not the problem, the city's out-of-control spending is the problem."

Verren added that he thinks the City Council members' salaries are "ridiculous.", or 1.3 percent of the projected shortfall.

, council members said that if the millage doesn't pass, they will make the 15 percent or 20 percent cuts needed to compensate for the budget shortfall.

Verren said he believes the proposed . "It's always a ploy," he said. "Not just in Ferndale, but Washington, too."

Protester Matt Pascoe said he will vote no because the council needs to be fiscally responsible. He referenced the renovation of City Hall as an example of unneeded spending. . However, former City Manager .

"I'm not comfortable with this particular millage," said protester Monica Mills, a Ferndale resident since 1979. "I wouldn't mind a dedicated (millage for police and fire), but not money just going into the general fund and spent in other ways."

If the millage passes May 3, the revenue generated from the increase would go into the general fund. This fund includes the operations of government, court, police and fire. About 60 percent of the general fund is used for public safety.

Mills said she doesn't want to see services and amenities cut – "The rec center is a wonderful place," she said – but she feels the city needs to really just tighten its belt. She said her taxes are going up $51 this year without the millage increase. "I'm afraid, this time, we're just going to have to tighten the budget."

Ferndale resident Todd Blankenship, who described himself as a liberal Democrat, said this millage is just too much. "There are more creative ways in solving the budget and in reducing costs than just raising taxes," he said. He added that the city could find ways of raising funds but said he wasn't exactly sure how.

Protester and resident Chris Branch said the tax rate didn't match what he thought the service level should be. "The services aren't good for what we pay," he said.

"We want people to know about the millage," F.A.C.T. Treasurer Alan Soave said. "Support has been good today, a lot of honks. One guy did walk past and told us he was voting for the millage. He can afford it, I guess."

House and the members of F.A.C.T. are holding a town hall meeting at noon today at and at 3 p.m. at the .


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