Live Blog: Ferndale Millage Decision Day, By the Hour

Ferndale residents voted yes on Proposal A on Tuesday, passing the millage 1,848 to 1,650. The vote gives Ferndale's City Council  the authority to raise the general operating tax rate 3 mills this year (from about 14.5 mills to 17.5 mills) and 2.45 mills over the next four years (from 17.5 mills to 20 mills).

"This will perserve our quality of life and our investment in our community," said Mayor Pro Tem Kate Baker.

The vote stayed close all day, in every precinct, with a fairly steady turnout and then a rush near the end of the day as the 8 p.m. closing of the polls neared.

The increase of 3 mills is about 6 percent of a resident's overall tax bill, and the additional 2.45 mills is about 5 percent of the overall tax bill. The average taxable value of a home in Ferndale, according to the 2010 Oakland County Equalization Report, is $43,941, making the average tax bill $2,112. The millage's passage means that, based on the average taxable value by the county, a tax bill will  increase by about $132 the first year and about $108 the next year.

Here's how the day at the polls went:

10:04 p.m.: Millage passes, 1,848 to 1,650.

10:01 p.m.: Absentee ballots from precincts 4, 5, 6. Yes is up by 262. Three more precincts to report.

9:42 p.m.: Absentee ballots from precincts 1, 2, 3. Yes is up by 274. Six more precincts to report.

9:19 p.m.: All precincts are reporting except for absentee ballots.

• Yes — 55.4 percent (1,636 without absentee)
• No — 44.6 percent (1,318 without absentee)

Baker said absentees need to come in at 37 percent yes for the millage to pass.

8:58 p.m.: "It's interesting, it's close in every precinct," Mayor Dave Coulter said. "It shows it was a well-thought-of tough decision."

8:44 p.m.: Baker said that if 37 percent of the absentee ballots are yes votes, the millage passes.

8:35 p.m.: Early numbers show yes votes ahead:

• Yes — 55.4 percent (1,636)
• No — 44.6 percent (1,318)

8:07 p.m.: Phillip and Debra Newton are officially the last voters at the Autumn House at 500 E. Nine Mile Rd. We asked them: How does it feel being the voters that could possibly make or break it (at least at the Autumn House)?

"Oh, it's just a tradition for us to be last," Debra Newton said. "We like to be last. Gotta have a tradition somewhere."

"We have been ready for quite awhile," Phillip Newton said. "Just watching the clock."

8 p.m.: Polls closed! Stay tuned for the results.

7:49 p.m.: "As a business owner and a resident, this town is great, and we need to keep the things that make it great," said Jeny Bulatovic, owner of . "Ferndale is awesome."

"I really don't support it, but I don't see how we can avoid it," voter Walter Mcadow said.

7:29 p.m.: There seems to be a lot of last-minute voters, many of whom are declining to comment.

7:17 p.m.: Election officials at are reporting 343 votes casted. Election inspector Doug Evans said the election went pretty smoothly. There was one issue early in the morning, he said, that a campaigner was a little too close to the entrance, and he was asked step back behind the 100-foot boundary.

Sean House, co-chair for Ferndale Against Council's Tax (F.A.C.T.), said he was happy to see people coming out to vote. "It's great to see a big turnout," he said. "Whichever way it goes, I'm just happy to see people out voting."

7:05 p.m.: Jerry Blankeslee said he voted yes at the Taft polling location. He has lived in Ferndale for 15 years. "I voted yes to increase my taxes because it is good for city services," he said. "We don't need to suffer, more people don't need to be laid off. We need people, and we need services."

7:00 p.m.: Election officials are reporting 173 residents voting at the Autumn House at 500 E. Nine Mile Rd.

6:50 p.m.: At the , 123 voters have been logged. Campaigners from both sides were at the location.

"You have to pay taxes to live in a safe community," said Jared Berousk, a Ferndale firefighter, campaigning for a yes vote. "I think economic growth depends on the safety of the community. If you don't have a safe community, people are not going to want to come shop in your city."

On the other side of the issue, Alan Soave is voting no. "I wouldn't say it's a crucial vote for me. I just try to keep my taxes down. Higher taxes do not promote economic growth. Taxes are negative, but some taxes are necessary," he said.

6:24 p.m.: The group YES to Ferndale's Future sent us another update via email:

"From YES to Ferndale's Future Campaign HeadQuarters: We are very pleased with the turnout so far, with only two hours left we have an influx of Ferndalians who are making themselves available and calling us to volunteer to work the polls! Every poll in Ferndale will be covered with at least one YES to Ferndale's Future campaigners, most having two of us present! We are so pleased with how this election day has ran. We also think our City Clerk and all her workers are doing an outstanding job! With less than two hours left we are still calling, emailing and texting friends to get out and Vote YES to Ferndale's Future!"

6:09 p.m.: You might know guy or the guy who drives LEO around (just as everyone calls me The Patch Guy). But Gorski is also a voter. He said he voted yes at the Harding Administration Center. "My taxes did go down, so it shows me that the city isn't getting more money," he said. "I want the same services. I don't want them to diminish, so I vote yes. It's a give and take."

5:41 p.m.: The 100-foot rule for campaigners also applies to private property. This morning, Ferndale Patch took a photo of a of a "Vote No" sign that was placed near the fence of a yard about 50 feet away from the entrance of the Harding Administration Center polling location. We found out a few hours later that this was in violation of the 100-foot rule.

"I called Sean (House, co-chair of F.A.C.T. — the group campaigning for the no vote) to see if he could take care of it," Ferndale City Clerk Cherilynn Tallman said. "I didn't want to involve city workers if possible. He was very cordial when we spoke."

Shortly after speaking with Tallman, Ferndale Patch headed over to Harding, about 30 minutes after Tallman called House, and the signs were still up. However, as we were taking pictures, House drove up and spoke with the homeowner.

"Could you take them down, if you didn't mind?" he asked. "They violate state law."

"Even on private property?" the homeowner asked.

The homeowner agreed and the incident was taken care of quickly.

(See photos in photo stream accompanying this story.)

5:30 p.m.: At the Harding Administration Center polling location, 238 residents have voted.

4:35 p.m.: Malcolm Hawkins, his wife, Kathleen, and his 93-year-old mother, Virginia, all said they voted no at Roosevelt Primary's polling location on Tuesday. Hawkins, 59, has lived in Ferndale off and on for 35 years.

"I voted no because I think the city should be like everyone else and cut back on spending," he said. "Don't cut back on police and fire, they just say that to scare people."

Hawkins said he wasn't sure what his taxes were without the paperwork in front of him but added that he thought the services in Ferndale were "excellent."

4:20 p.m.: Katie Hershberger was bundled up, with a container of chocolate cookies next to her, holding a YES to Ferndale's Future sign.

"I hope it's going the way I want it to," she said. "If it's not, we're in big trouble."

Hershberger was appointed to Ferndale's Financial Planning Committee, which was put together in August and started meeting in September. The committee was charged with finding a solution to Ferndale's projected $2.3 million shortfall. The committee's solution is what people were voting on Tuesday.

This is the first time Hershberger has campaigned in an election. "It's been very interesting to see how much effort can be put forth by such small groups," she said.

Hershberger has been a Ferndale resident for 35 years.

Greg Pawlica, co-chair of the YES to Ferndale's Future campaign, walked up. "Things are going very good. I'm very impressed with the results so far," he said. "I'm am surprised by how slow the high school (precinct) is."

Asked about the outcome: "I'm hopefully optimistic," he said.

4:10 p.m.: Election officials reporting 296 voted at Roosevelt Primary.

4:00 p.m.: We caught up with Tallman outside the Roosevelt Primary polling location. She said everything is running smoothly and there haven't been any major issues. Nonmajor issues have included campaigning within 100 feet of a polling location, but she said there was nothing out of the ordinary.

She is anticipating about 10 percent to 11 percent voter turnout.

3:18 p.m.: School is out. Traffic is congested around schools for you voters out there. Be forewarned.

2:16 p.m.: At the Autumn House, at 500 E. Nine Mile Rd. (where we started our morning), 71 voters have cast ballots.

With yes and no advocates campaigning side by side, station manager Judy Yavello said things have been going smoothly, with no one violating the 100-foot rule.

"Things have been fairly slow, but they should pick up when school is out," said Yavello.

Most stations are agreeing that Roosevelt gets the highest turnout. "I don't know, maybe that's where all the people who pay attention live," said Yavello.

 1:54 p.m.: Update from YES to Ferndale's Future Co-chair Dennis Whittie:

"Things are going great at YES to Ferndale's Future HeadQuarters! We have workers out at the polls who are reporting postive responses. Co-Chair Greg Pawlica is out checking on our volunteers with a food and beverage cart and I'm holding down the fort at HQ dealing with the administrative and logistical matters! Our volunteer Nancy Goedert has made over 100 calls today reminding people to get out and vote. A mass email and text has been sent, as well, to remind everyone that today is the day to decide Ferndale's future! Overall we're happy with our progress today and thankful to have so many incredible volunteers. And we think (City Clerk) Cherilynn (Tallman), her staff and all her election workers are doing a great job today!"

1:27 p.m.: has logged 220 votes so far.

"The issue, it should not have got this far. We already had an increase (the library millage of 1 mill)," said voter Dennis Morey, a resident of Ferndale for 25 years. "For the city to cry broke when they just bought a million-dollar fire truck with a 100-foot ladder. There isn't a building that high in Ferndale. ... If you ask me, the firemen are paid way too high."

More than 60 percent of the fire truck was paid for with a federal grant from FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

12:45 p.m.: A debate broke out in the parking lot of the (and it was 100 feet away from the polling location). Kevin Deegan-Krause, who said he voted yes, and Eric Christensen, who was campaigning for a no vote, started discussing the Kulick Center and the merits of "public good."

"I like to give money to people who need it more," Deegan-Krause said.

"That's a judgment call," Christensen replied. "I work hard for my money."

"I work hard for my money, too," Deegan-Krause replied.

Christensen felt that the community center didn't need to have money spent on it in light of the potential shortfall and that all the money should go toward police and fire. "You can't have everything," he said.

Christensen said he feels the general fund does too much.

"The general fund does a lot of good stuff," Deegan-Krause said. "I know a lot of people who moved here for the quality of services and quality of life not based on the tax rate."

12:35 p.m.: Kevin Deegan-Krause said he voted yes at the on Tuesday. "I think the city has done an excellent job managing the finances," he said. "Because of the economy and the unfortunate politics in Lansing, the city doesn't have the revenue it needs to prove the services we need. And I think the council and the financial planning committee did an excellent job working with the data to figure out a temporary solution."

Deegan-Krause said he thinks that government, in general, does a pretty good job of providing for public good. "We can just strip everything to the bone, that's not a good quality of life," he said.

His son, Peter, said he thinks the millage will prevail. "My sister told me there are more yes signs than no signs," Peter said.

12:30 p.m.: Virginia Saxton said she voted yes on an absentee ballot "because I don't want (Ferndale) to change. I don't want my taxes to go up, but I don't want to lose all the services."

Larry Saville rode his bike to the , where he said he voted yes. "Bottom line is, every community in the state is facing the same financial issues," he said. "A yes vote is a vote for (Ferndale), a vote for me."

Saville said he realizes his rent may go up, but it's the quality of life in Ferndale that's important to preserve. "People just don't realize that our economy was built on cheap gas, cheap taxes," he said. "This is just a little bit more."

12:25 p.m.: Co-chair of Ferndale Against Council's Tax (F.A.C.T.) Sean House shows up to the to check on his campaigners here. "I'm glad to see Ferndale is out voting," he said.

Asked what he'll do if the millage passes, he said: "We'll do the best we can to make sure council spend the money where it should spend the money."

The council has said that if the millage doesn't pass, there will be cuts to police and fire services. Asked about this, House said he doesn't think the cuts will actually be made. "I don't think they will cut police or fire. They'll find creative ways, find money that wasn't there before and not cut," he said. "We'll fight them every step of the way (if they do cut police and fire)."

F.A.C.T. campaigner Eric Christensen, a 12-year Ferndale resident, said he'd support a dedicated public safety millage for police and fire, but that's it. "I don't like this general fund stuff," he said.

12:20 p.m.: Joel Petrie, election inspector and former co-chair of the Ferndale Financial Planning Committee, said 143 people had voted so far at the . "It's been smooth, slow, but steady," Petrie said.

He's been working elections in Ferndale for 15 years. He said most people come when they have breaks at work. "There's always a very good opening crowd, then a 10 a.m. lull. Lunchtime picks up, and then there is a big after-work crowd," he said.

12:14 p.m.: The polling location logs 177 voters.

"Cut the flowers out of the median first before you raise taxes," voter Gordon Russ said. "The city already takes enough money out of my wallet. They don't need to take anymore."

Mayor Pro Tem Kate Baker was asked her definition of taxes: "The price you pay to live in a civil society."

11:42 a.m.: Election Chair Gail Stanton at Roosevelt Elementary said 154 people have voted since 7 a.m.

11:23 a.m.: David Koenig election chairman at Precinct 4 at , said he expects a big turnout for the evening voters.

11:05 a.m.: "From the federal level down to the county, the government needs to shrink," Ferndale resident M. Todak said after voting at Ferndale High School. "They need to start taking pay cuts like the rest of us."

11:00 a.m.: Precinct 8, at , has had 64 voters. There are about 2,200 registered voters for Edison and with 64 percent coming out, that's nearly 3 percent, which is more than most of the May school board elections. But Linda Gilles,  chairwoman of Precinct 8,  said this is different.

"This is bigger than the school board election," Gilles said.

Precinct 8 election inspector Marc Reinerth said he thinks the precinct will easily reach 220 voters, or 10 percent.

Outside, Ferndale firefighter Larry Mercer was campaigning for a yes vote. He had been out for 30 minutes. He said he hadn't talked to any voters yet and hadn't seen anyone from the no campaign, although several "vote no" signs were posted in yards on Shelvin Street, around Edison.

"Basically, I'm out here because I don't want to see Ferndale slide down the drain," Mercer said. "The city is on the way up and has been on the way up for years. A no vote would be a huge step backwards."

10:32 a.m.: Precinct 4 election chairman David Koenig said it's a light turnout so far at Ferndale High School.

10:23 a.m.: Jennifer Krycian reports to us that she was the 67th voter at the .

10:06 a.m.: Katie Spence reports she was the 51st voter at Precinct 8, the .

10:03 a.m.: The rain stopped for a second, but that didn't last long. The polling locations are slow. Precinct 1, at the , had 44 voters before 10 a.m. "It's slower than November," election inspector Megan Tallman said.

May elections in Ferndale during the past .

"Special elections are totally different," election inspector Michael Lary said. Lary is also event director for Ferndale, focusing on the Woodward Dream Cruise.

Despite 44 voters so far, none were on hand while Ferndale Patch was there. Ken Veenstra, who was campaigning for the yes vote, said it had been a slow trickle of voters since 7 a.m.

Veenstra said there had been some confusion on what was considered the entrance of the Harding Administration. Veenstra said that where he used to campaign was considered off-limits during this election. "We used to campaign under the (parking lot) light and right around the play area," he said. "But this year, we couldn't."

However, Deputy City Clerk Marne McGrath said there was no real issue other than getting the signs out and making clear where the 100-feet boundaries were. "These small issues are bound to happen with such a passionate election," she said.

McGrath said she'd been on the road since 6:30 a.m., checking on the locations and all the signs, and she said she wasn't aware of any hiccups or major issues arising.

If you see any campaigners violating the 100-foot rule, let us know (email Terry.Parris@patch.com) and call the clerk's office at 248-546-2384.

9:22 a.m.: Voters have been slowly trickling in to the polling station since Precinct 2, , opened at 7 a.m. Ferndale Patch caught up with voter and . "The health of our city is at stake," she said. "This is a very crucial vote."

8:40 a.m.: Twenty-two voters so far at Precinct 7, . I have a wet notebook; talking to campaigners and voters in the rain is not ideal.

Voter Kris Shaw, 37, came out to vote with his 4½-year-old son, Billy. It was Daddy-Buddy Day, Shaw said, explaining it's the day he spends hanging out with Billy.

"I had the day off for Daddy-Buddy Day, and I brought him to vote," he said. "I wasn't going to not vote."

Shaw said Billy asked him what voting was. "I told him it's where everyone has a voice," he said.

Shaw didn't want to discuss the election but said he knows the issue. Billy was wearing a "firefighter" raincoat, which, Shaw said with a chuckle, was not a political stance.

Resident Victoria Straub said she voted yes to Proposal A. "I'm concerned about the community, and I want to ensure that Ferndale stays a good place that is safe and has good services," she said. "I guess you know how I'm voting."

Straub has lived in Ferndale for one year. "I moved to Ferndale because of its central location, and it is a community with a lot going on," she said.

Ferndale Fire Marshal Brian Batten (who took the day off) and resident Lynn Cottrill were campaigning with the yes side, while Mark Fredericks was campaigning for a no vote.

The police and fire unions have come out in support of the yes campaign.

"There are obvious risks if the millage doesn't pass," Batten said. "The city will have to make drastic cuts, and those cuts will affect police and fire. ." Batten added that the hidden cost is the ISO rating, which affects insurance rates, he said.

"Homes will be affected, but businesses would be greatly affected if the ISO rating went up," he said.

For Fredericks, she said the issue was that it wasn't a dedicated millage. "This city would support a police and fire millage if it was a dedicated millage," she said. "But I'm against the general fund."

She also had issue with the size of the rainy day fund, saying the city should use that to pay for police and fire, and she asked why the election can't take place in November. "What's six months?" she asked. "More people come out, more people know the issue."

7:34 a.m.: It's 41 degrees and raining. First stop, Autumn House at 500 E. Nine Mile Rd. There have been six voters as of now. Election workers at the Autumn House spanned several generations from 17-year-old Katie O'Rear to 81-year-old Georgia Stanton.

"I really don't remember the first election I worked, but it's been a lot," said Stanton, who has worked several elections in several precincts throughout Ferndale.

"This is my third election," said O'Rear, . "It's really cool seeing the process, running the polls."

Other election inspectors included election chair Judy Yavello and Karen Owens.

Outside of the polling location, 100 feet away, was Brian Donovan, campaigning for a no vote. "I hope you voted no," he said as a voter walked up to him.

"We're overtaxed as it is," Donovan said. "It's a three-headed monster: city, state, federal."

Donovan said his house was just foreclosed, and he is living with a friend. "They said this millage is different: not the state and not fed, but it's all connected to my pocket – to your pocket."

7 a.m.: Polls open!