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Saturday, August 6, 2011

AUG 16 Ferndale Watchdog Meeting

Flyer is here

Ferndale 1st
Ferndale Citizen Watchdogs

Meeting
Tuesday August 16th, 2011
7:00pm – 8:00pm


[Also Tuesday September 6th, 2011 7-8pm]

Woodward Heights Commerce Center
Woodward Heights (9½ Mile) at the RR Tracks
[turn onto NB Horton and park behind bldg]

Discussion
1. Upcoming Millage Increases (School 7 mils, Fire 5 mils)
2. Upcoming November Elections

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Join Your Neighbors!

FERNDALE
TAX DAY
PROTEST
Friday April 15th, 2011

5:00pm - 7:00pm
At the corner of Woodward & 9 Mile Rd (Ferndale, Mich)

Park behind Radio Shack Building or by Ferndale Library and walk over

VERY IMPORTANT!!
WE NEED EVERYONE!


Ferndale is setting a precedent by placing one of the highest tax increases on the ballot in
Oakland County History!

A 5.5 Mil increase will be added unless we stop it!

This event will go on RAIN or SHINE!
(weather calls for mid 40's but NO RAIN!)


RSVP IS VERY IMPORTANT AS WE NEED TO GAUGE HOW MANY WILL BE THERE!

[RSVP here: http://on.fb.me/hZ1e9w ]

OR EMAIL: SEANMHOUSE@GMAIL.COM


I CANNOT STRESS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WE HAVE A GREAT TURNOUT... PLEASE JOIN US!
PAID FOR BY F.A.C.T. [FERNDALE AGAINST COUNCIL'S TAX] 141 SPENCER, FERNDALE, MICHIGAN 48220

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

FACT Introduces NEW WEBSITE


Ferndale Residents are flocking to F.A.C.T.'s new website at:

Save Ferndale (Click or Copy & Paste)

I welcome your feedback on the site design and content. Please email us to provide your feedback!

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Weekly Meetings Have Begun

Hello;

We are having two (2) separate meetings this weekend for citizens opposing Ferndale's 5.4552 Mil (38%) tax increase.
--------------------------------------------
Saturday Mornings
10:00 - 11:00 am
701 Woodward Heights
Ferndale, MI 48220
(Bldg is on corner of
Woodward Hts & Horton
near RR Tracks, park
behind building - Enter from Lot)
Sat: March 26, April 2
----------------------------------------------
Sunday Evenings
5:00 - 6:00 pm
1120 E Nine Mile Rd
Ferndale, MI 48220
(SE Corner of Bonner & 9 Mile, 1 block EAST of Hilton
ONLY park next to Friends of Ferndale
or Lot behind Fire Station (Comerica's)
Sun: March 27, April 3

PLEASE JOIN US!

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

HOW TO APPEAL YOUR PROPERTY TAXES

The best candidate for appealing property taxes is one who has bought their home between 1991 and now (although others may benefit and you should get your 2011 Tax notice and check your own property at the website here).

Then visit this website [HOME VALUE FINDER] to see an estimated value of your home and if your SEV is more than half of that number, you are most likely needing to appeal. (SEV or State Equalized Value can be seen on your most recent 2011 Tax Statement).

It is not a difficult process but it can be lengthy if you must take it beyond a local board. (They will refund you with interest if you win at the State Tax Tribunal.)

Here are some steps you should take (or you can pay someone $98-$198 to do it for you: www.OverTaxedProperty.com)

STEP 0
Before starting...call and schedule a date to go before a local Tax Board. 248-858-1982 between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm. CALL SOON AS APPOINTMENTS ARE FILLING QUICKLY!! (You can cancel later if you change your mind)

STEP 1 You may appeal either your taxable value, or SEV, or both, to the March Board of Review in 2011. Go to your local assessor’s office and obtain a copy of your worksheet or appraisal card for your property. This should list the size of your house, the type of construction, special features, etc. The worksheet contains other information such as style (ranch, colonial, contemporary, etc.) of your home, utilities, construction date, number of baths, fireplaces, and kitchen range hoods. Ask the assessing department to explain the document until you completely understand the abbreviations and numbers. You can also obtain worksheets of similar properties which recently sold in the area which the assessor is using to determine the value of your property.

STEP 2 Carefully check the worksheet for errors. The assessor may agree to change some of the information or figures at that time, or you may have to make your case with the local Board of Review. There should be a “percent good” calculation on your
worksheet which shows you how much your house has depreciated. Usually the Michigan Assessor’s Manual requires that every property have a “percent good” calculation. If your house is ten years old, it will be about 90% good. Percent good is another factor to use when comparing your home with other homes. (See Step 4.)

STEP 3 If your tentative taxable value increased or only decreased modestly from your 2010 taxable value and you did not improve your home then your taxable value may exceed the statutorily mandated assessment cap.

STEP 4 As noted in Step 2, the “percent good” is the way an assessor depreciates the value of a home based on its age. For this reason, normal issues common to all homes of that age are not considered in the specifics on the assessment. However, many homes have problems that are not associated with general aging. Examples might be cracked foundations, wall construction problems, or poor masonry work. The impact of these problems on the value of the home should be specifically addressed.Therefore it is necessary to perform a complete inside inspection of your home. Written repair estimates and photographs of structural damage are very good evidence of defects which could affect property value.

STEP 5 Realtors say that location is the single most important feature which determines the value of your home. If you live near a major road, landfill, business, or industry, your home may be less desirable than the same home located in a purely residential neighborhood. You may live in a mixed zoning area which includes commercial, industrial, and residential property. You may have a well, septic system, or dirt road. Obtain copies of citizen complaints about area drug houses, rowdy party homes, and neighborhood eyesores. Tape record factory, truck, or party noise. If these characteristics have changed, they may contribute to a deteriorating value of your home and you should be able to show this to the Board.

STEP 6 If you do not have the time or patience to collect comparable sales, local realtors may help you determine the value of your property. Pictures showing why your home is valued less or other homes are valued more will be your best defense against a local board. Or, you may wish to have your home professionally appraised. A professional appraisal is the best evidence against an improper assessment and the best proof of value. It may cost you as much as you would save from lower property taxes, however. You can also pay someone to help you with the process, like I mentioned above.

STEP 7 One of the most common mistakes home buyers can make is that they fail to inform the assessor of personal property and other valuable items which were included in the sale. Personal property items often included in a home’s sale price such as furniture, curtains, washer, dryer, etc. are exempt from assessment. If you do not inform your assessor in writing about these items, your assessment may erroneously include this value.

STEP 8
Comparable property assessments are one of the most important tools for a property tax assessment appeal. If comparable properties are assessed lower than yours, you may argue that your property is over assessed. Make your comparable study by asking for the worksheets of similar homes which have recently sold in your area. Check the assessed value, the state equalized value, taxable value, type of house, and zoning.

STEP 9The last step in the process is to put all your information into letter form. An example is on this page.

STEP 10

If you are not satisfied with the decision of your local Board of Review, you may want to continue your appeal. In order to do this, you must send a letter to the Michigan Tax Tribunal, P.O. Box 30232, Lansing, MI 48909 before June 30 and ask them to mail you the necessary forms for appeal. You must appeal to the local Board
of Review before you can appeal to the Michigan Tax Tribunal.

SAMPLE APPEAL LETTER
Date
Name
Address
Telephone

To the Board of Review/Tax Tribunal:

I wish to appeal my property tax assessment for the following reasons:
1. According to my Worksheet/Property Record, I have noted the following discrepancies:

A. I do not have a fireplace as indicated.
Estimated value .....$1,800

B. I do not have a tile bath as indicated.
Estimated value .....$1,200

C. According to my worksheet, I have 1,500 square
feet of living space. I have 1,000 square feet.
Reduced value.....$6,920

This amount should be deducted from true cash value .....$9,920

2. I have noted the following structural defects on my property. They reduce the value of the property by the following amounts:

A. Cracked foundation ..........$3,800

B. Cracked exterior wall ........$2,200

This amount should be deducted from true cash value .........$6,000

3. I live in an area that has mixed zoning and next door there is a new junkyard which emits loud noises and noxious odors. This affects the value of my property.

I feel my true cash value has been reduced by $3,000

3a. Grand Total, add #1, 2, and 3 above...$18,920

4. I wish to make the following comparables to recent sales:

231 Main Street, assessed value___________
(List all comparables and ask for an average reduction. Note: add all items you noted as discrepancies, comparable amounts, etc.)

Example:
True cash value .......$60,000
Minus Discrepancy/Grand Total $18,920
New True Cash Value.....$41,080
One half = Assessed value (S.E.V.) $20,540

NOTE: This sample letter indicates many of the grounds for a reduced assessment. It is very unlikely that an assessment could be reduced by nearly one-third, as illustrated here, but every reduction is important. Bring a presentation copy for yourself and each of the Board of Review members. Read your presentation to the Board. You may have about five minutes, so make your points, show photographs, and stay professional.

REMEMBER THIS IS PERSONAL TO
YOU BUT ONLY BUSINESS TO THEM AND IT CAN BE APPEALED HIGHER IF THEY DISAGREE WITH YOU!

Direct any questions about the appeal process to Mark Avery at help@overtaxedproperty.com
Tell him Sean House sent you as I know him personally and it may get you quicker and better service!

Best Wishes!! Happy Appealing!

Friday, March 4, 2011

SILENT MAJORITY







Someone once told me the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

Unfortunately it is true in today's society as it was when I was told. It is where a vocal minority can hold hostage a discussion. The same is true for the VOTE YES crowd in Ferndale. Small and vocal but yet do not mirror the vast majority of the residents I have spoken with recently.

Here is the reason. Many Ferndale residents do not wish to get into disagreements with their neighbors and friends around the city. The don't want to argue with the person across the street so they keep a quiet vigilance against it. The speak quietly to friends and when they discern they are on the same side, they pass the word.

And I don't blame our residents.

God forbid you should have a differing opinion with the
"Squeaky Wheel" crowd. You get shouted down, discredited, ignored, ridiculed, and sometimes silenced by repressive persons.

I speak of this only so you will know you are not alone and that you should not be fooled by the "Squeaky Wheels". Another nice thing about squeaky wheels is that they usually get replaced!

VOTE NO ON CITY COUNCIL'S PROP A

Sunday, February 13, 2011

A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HOW THE HEADLEE OVERRIDE WOULD DESTROY FERNDALE!


Below is an article from the Oakland Press. It explains the problems we are having now in Ferndale. Without the Headlee Override.

Passing the Headlee Override will only magnify the problem!!


Read on:
===================BEGIN ARTICLE:

Property values continue to fall

John and Jane Doe (not their real names) took their Ferndale house off the market after five months when it became apparent a sale wasn’t in the offing.

“We kept dropping the price by $5,000 or $10,000 until people started looking,” Jane Doe said. Finally an offer came in at $107,500, but the deal didn’t close.

At that price, it would have been a steal. Built in 1915 and expanded over the years, the house offers 2,588 square feet in a beautiful neighborhood within walking distance of downtown Ferndale.

Ferndale has the highest tax rate in Oakland County and, in 2009, the couple appealed their tax assessment and got a slight reduction. Their newest assessment, though a decrease, puts the home’s market value at $167,000.

“So there’s quite a disparity,” Jane Doe said. “It’s nowhere reflective of what it could actually sell for.” (EMPHASIS ADDED)

All over Oakland County, property values are continuing to fall, an estimated 12 percent countywide for 2011 after nearly the same percentage in 2010. Job losses and foreclosures have combined to put a glut of houses on the market. Judging by the number of appeals in the last few years, homeowners have been taking a serious look at the assessment change notices that arrive each year in February.

Back in 2006, Rochester Hills resident Mark Avery was among the first to call attention to a looming problem. He took his concerns to his city council, where he received a cool reception. Five years later, he says tax assessments haven’t caught up with reality, “Not even close.”

“The basic case is very simple,” he said. “The numbers are too high for what’s happening, because the mathematics can’t catch up.”

Since 1994’s Proposal A changed the way properties are assessed, assessors have used a two-year sales study to help gauge the true market value of a home. That worked just fine until property values began falling. Assessors then switched to a one-year sales study to more accurately reflect conditions.

But there’s still a lag. When the bottom fell out of the market in late 2008, the sales study had already closed for the year. Avery contends that because of that, homeowners were overtaxed 25 percent in 2009 and continue to be overtaxed ever since

“Everybody should challenge” his or her assessment, he said. He’s even started a business to help other property owners do just that.

The appeal process begins each year in March, after new assessment change notices go out. Appeals start with the local Board of Review. Board of Review decisions can be appealed to the Michigan Tax Tribunal.

The number of appeals peaked in 2009, then decreased in 2010. In December, Oakland County Equalization Manager Dave Hieber said the county had $3.9 billion in property value under appeal, some still pending from the 2008 tax year. Those appeals include homeowners and large taxpayers like General Motors.

“There’s a bulk of appeals out there, no question about it,” he said.

Kelly Sweeney, CEO of Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel, thinks there will be fewer appeals this year because the assessing system is catching up with the market.

“State equalized values in most communities have started to go down,” he said. “So people are seeing the positive impact.”

Farmington Hills Assessor Mat Dingman said he expects the number of appeals to be about the same as last year, when his city heard about 320 appeals. In part, that’s because some assessments are up this year.

“What we’ve got going on is such a wide range of issues,” he said. “Some areas where we don’t have very many foreclosures at all, they’re doing fine.”

The foreclosure crisis has made property assessing even more tricky than usual. Though some sales of foreclosed homes are not included in sales studies, foreclosures do affect surrounding property values, Dingman said.

“If I’m going to sell my house, I’ve got to compete with them,” he said. “Until that house is off the market, my house is influenced by that.

Also complicating matters this year is the fact that the inflation rate is up for the first time in three years. State law allows assessments to rise with inflation. The shorter sales study period also means assessors have fewer comparable sales.

“You don’t have all the data that you’d like to have,” Dingman said. “It’s not an easy thing to do in this time. And every sale has a story. You have to try and do the research and see why this home sold for what it did.”

Sales of comparable homes are crucial in assessing, and just as important for homeowners who want to appeal their assessments.

“You want to go in with your comparable homes, and you want to get private sales,” Avery said. “But here’s the problem; in some locations there are no private sales.”

His advice? Do your homework.

“Find the best comparable sales,” he said. “You are guilty until proven innocent. The number they (assessors) have, you have to prove it’s not right.”

Oakland County and local assessors are trying to make preparing for the Board of Review easier this year. Hieber said the assessment change notices will be easier to read, and a lot of information will be available free online at www.oakgov.com/equal.

Dingman said his city will have a lot of data available at his office and will assist property owners preparing for the Board of Review.

“Look at sales with a critical eye like we do,” he said. “Just because a property sold, look deeper into it. Should the rest of the city be based on that sale?

“People are getting better at it. … They’re doing the homework. They’re coming in with data. A lot of it is because more data is available.”

FYI

  • Oakland County will offer three seminars on the property appeals process. They are Feb. 16 at Novi City Hall, 45175 West 10 Mile; Feb. 24 at Oakland Community College’s Lila Jones-Johnson Theater, 739 South Washington in Royal Oak; and March 2 at the Oakland County Board of Commissioners’ Auditorium, 1200 North Telegraph, Pontiac. Each seminar is from 7-9 p.m. Call 248-975-4417 to reserve a seat.
  • On Feb. 16, Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel will offer a free property-tax appeals seminar at the Birmingham Community House, 380 South Bates from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Topics will include: Differentiating between State Equalized Value, Capped Value and Taxable Value; Explanation of the uncapping process; Breaking down the appeal process at local and state levels; and How to read and interpret Property Assessment Notices for 2011. RSVP by e-mailing events@cbweirmanuel.com.
END ARTICLE===================

We will also be listing links and possibly be teaching people how to appeal property taxes here in Ferndale. For more info please watch this blog.

PLEASE VOTE NO ON THE HEADLEE OVERRIDE TAX INCREASE IN MAY

Saturday, February 12, 2011

$7,000.00 FERNDALE PROPERTY TAX? YOU BETCHA!!


Today, while looking through our depressed Property market here in Ferndale I discovered a few things; the most surprising was that there was a home with current taxes of $6405 per year.

YIKES!

I then got to thinking...what happens to this person if the dreaded Headlee Override passes? His taxes move to nearly $7,000.00!! [$6944.28 to be exact].

These are the stories Mr. T Scott Galloway doesn't want you to hear about.

In fact of the 30 homes I found for sale in Ferndale here, 20 of the 30 (66%) were over 3,000, 1o were over $4,000 a year and 5 were over $5,000 in current property taxes!! These would go up an astounding $364-$540 per year!! That is as much as $2500 over the life of the tax.

This doesn't even address businesses who do not enjoy the Homestead tax break.

Council likes to talk about how the downtown was empty before the D.D.A.? How empty will it be when struggling business' can't afford the new tax?? As if the empty storefronts pay less taxes than the full ones.


Some other interesting notes: [Source]


  • There are 554 homes for sale in Ferndale (5.7%) How much will this increase when the taxes go up?? Do we benefit from having empty homes all around us??
  • There are 1509 Foreclosures (15.5 %) which almost doubled from the 847(8.7%) reported for last year. How many will be forced into foreclosure by increased taxes?
  • Over 21% of Ferndale homes (1 in 5) are on the market or foreclosed. How much further can that be pushed with a 38% tax increase?
  • Our home values are plummeting! How much more will it plummet when we have the HIGHEST TAX RATE IN OAKLAND COUNTY?? Who will want to buy in Ferndale then?

Neighbors....please join us:
F.A.C.T. = FERNDALE AGAINST COUNCIL'S TAX
by emailing me at SeanMHouse@gmail.com
or calling Sean at 248-224-1973.

PLEASE VOTE NO ON THE HEADLEE OVERRIDE TAX INCREASE!

Thursday, February 10, 2011

WASTED MONEY BY FERNDALE CITY COUNCIL

Almost 1 Million dollars. On 2 items.

That is only for the New Software [$438,411] we "needed" (although the old stuff worked fine and could have been used) and for office furniture [$447,930] for one Council Woman's office.

That is exactly 42% of what we are short this year.

This is 2 examples of the many throughout the past few years. City Council made the decisions and rests squarely on their shoulders!

Check our this quote from Tom gagne's column in the latest Ferndale Friends and check out his blog here: TGGagne.blogspot.com:

"In June 2007 council approved approximately $39,500 to repair a section of the screening wall around the Winthington parking lot. Five months later, DPW director Byron Photiades was back asking for another $30,755. When council asked why it was so expensive he said something about deteriorating caps, expanding rods and a park bench, but wrapped up by saying, “It may sound expensive, but it’s a really nice wall.”

It’s a really nice wall?

Just last June city council spent over $438,411 on new hardware and software to improve efficiencies. The very next month they spent another $447,930 on office furniture and carpeting one council woman (I won’t say which) thought was necessary to make city hall ADA-compliant (that cost was a relatively modest $21,500 – just 5% of the total).

But it’s really nice furniture."


I have heard people argue that we shouldn't look back....we should look forward, but I say to you: "Do not the actions of the past dictate likely future actions?" You must look at their record. They are not responsible with OUR money.

PLEASE VOTE NO ON THE HEADLEE OVERRIDE TAX INCREASE!

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

A VALUABLE LESSON LEARNED

Regardless of how anyone would like to frame this debate (myself included) the fact remains that this debate is about one thing; and only one thing.

The fact is that we must step away from the specters of the past...we must ignore party affiliation and rhetoric and we must look at the records of those involved and what was done. No elected representative is above the law or above reproach....we must hold them accountable for the things they do and have done. Period. Elections have consequences.

We are not gays & straights, blacks and whites, Republicans and Democrats. The only affiliation we have is we are all Ferndalians. We deserve to have our tax dollars treated with respect, dignity and reverence. And that has NOT been done.

VOTE NO ON THE HEADLEE OVERRIDE TAX INCREASE!

Saturday, February 5, 2011

THE LACK OF VISION IS BREATHTAKING

Today while reading the WOODWARD TALK (Officials pg 14 last paragraph), I read Mr. Photaides quote as follows; "That May 3 (Headlee Override) Vote will be very important to our community, If it doesn't pass, then I think you will really start to see a mass exodus of people from Ferndale."

May I suggest that if it does pass, you will see a forced exodus from Ferndale.

To those who cannot sell and cannot pay the increased taxes(they can barely afford them now) then you will force families and residents into foreclosure.
How many foreclosures have you seen in your neighborhood? (That huge pile of dozens of black trash bags lining the street infront of your neighbors home....it isn't spring cleaning...)

There is a vast difference in thought, and I hope to explain it.

Proponents of the Tax Increase say that in order to maintain services at or near the level they are now we must raise taxes. Unfortunately that logic is flawed in many ways. Even by their own forecast, if the headlee is passed we will still be "underwater" in 3 years. Then what? Another tax increase? Will they cut more at that point?

Secondly, it is frequently said that the housing market is in an upswing or at rock bottom. Are you aware that Oakland County has over 6000 foreclosed homes that are bank owned that are not on the market? [Source: Mark Avery of Overtaxed Property.com] They are holding them back because they know that if they release them into the market it would crash or seriously devalue the property in this area. Detroit and Wayne County is worse than Oakland.

When the "Citizen financial Committee" met with Brooks Patterson's Deputy Executive Bob Daddow, he explained that the most optimistic of estimates noted housing prices not returning to recent levels until 2025. If we have increased deflation or even low prices the city stands to lose even more of its tax income. We will have to cut anyway.

Bob Bruner even noted that we will have to cut anyway this is only a band aid not a solution.

So lets use some common sense. Lets make the cuts now. Talk to your neighbors and friends and.....

VOTE NO ON THE HEADLEE OVERRIDE TAX INCREASE!



Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Worthwhile Government Spending

While most blather on about cutting government, I would like to point out some useful ways to spend tax dollars.

Today is a prime example of spending wise tax dollars. Although we could all clean off our own drives and sidewalks and then clean off the portion of the road in front of our home, we are willing to pay some money for the city to buy plows and do it for us.

Police & Fire. While we could all have hoses in our home and as a community fight each others fires, we choose to pay the brave men and women to do that. We could all carry sidearms and defend our own homes, but that may be difficult when we leave for work or shopping so we pay the brave men and women who serve our community in the police force.

Extras:
Extras are nice but usually people don't choose to do them over losing neighbors. It is nice to have art on city property, but not at the expense of losing a family. Paid junkets are nice to have informed representatives and learn useful information....but not at the expense of having empty homes lining our blocks. We see how well the worked in Detroit.

It is important to evaluate city government at every turn. While it would be great if citizen representatives always told the truth and always seen the best solution. The fact is that some politicians and elected officials in every party at every level have lied. Some just do not see the forests for the trees....they are too close to the problems.

We must remain vigilant and open it all to the light of day for everyone to see. So far that has not been the case in the City of Ferndale.


VOTE NO ON THE HEADLEE OVERRIDE MILLAGE INCREASE !

Monday, January 31, 2011

$50,681,783

$681,000 is a lot of money. But lets forget about that for a minute.

This is what $50,000,000 looks like. (YES THAT IS 50 MILLION...not a misprint) That is the amount of money the city of Ferndale spends every single year. The picture above has
30 x 36 packages of $100 bill packs [$10,000 each!]...4 FEET DEEP!

Police and fire are less than 25% of that. Why is that the only part of the discussion???

But I digress...

I propose that there is a way to pull $2.1 Million from somewhere else...it is less than 4% of the budget.

VOTE NO ON THE MILLAGE INCREASE!

Thursday, January 27, 2011

HOW DO WE STOP THE MILLAGE?

Boy have the calls been ringing in since the Council meeting!!

Many have called and shared how excited there was that there were people who shared their views. Some said they were worried nobody would listen that is why they didn't bother to attend.

If you want to get involved:
  1. Email me (Sean House) SeanMHouse@gmail.com
  2. or call me at 248-224-1973 (9am - 8pm please I have young children)
  3. Join our FACEBOOK group here: Facebook.com
  4. Talk to your neighbors and tell them about us
  5. Talk to the local business owners you know...REMEMBER THEY DO NOT GET THE HOMESTEAD SO THEIR TAXES WILL GO TO 70+ MILLS [ And if they rent their rent will go up DRASTICALLY!]

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

WORDS OF WISDOM

We can learn from those who have come before us....

"It is a paradoxical truth that tax rates are too high and tax revenues are too low and the soundest way to raise the revenues in the long run is to cut the rates now ... Cutting taxes now is not to incur a budget deficit, but to achieve the more prosperous, expanding economy which can bring a budget surplus."

– John F. Kennedy

"We contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle” - Winston Churchill

"When a new source of taxation is found it never means, in practice, that the old source is abandoned. It merely means that the politicians have two ways of milking the taxpayer where they had one before." - Henry Louis Mencken

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

OUR REQUEST TO COUNCIL

[Ed Note: City Budget can be found here. City Financial Statements can be found here.]

Attention City of Ferndale Council:

As citizens of Ferndale we are formally requesting in writing the answers and information requested below by February 15, 2011 in hard copy or electronic format:

  1. Does the City have an employee benefits agent that analyzes claims and assists during collective bargaining to ensure least cost/greatest benefit plan designs are used? Please provide name and contact information of the agent. (Not carrier representative)

  2. Have ancillary benefits (dental, life/AD&D, STD/LTD, vision, etc.) been consolidated where possible and when was the last time these were marketed to consider alternative carriers/vendors that may offer savings? Please provide this information and any quotes obtained.

  3. Does the City have a Defined Benefit or Defined Contribution pension plan for employees? If it is currently a DB plan, has a DC plan been evaluated? Please provide this information and costs in detail.

  4. Does the City have a designated Risk Manager? If so, have you considered outsourcing this position? Please provide name of Risk Manager, name of outsourced agent if applicable and applicable salaries.

  5. Please provide a full list of all employees, their salaries, benefit packages, contribution levels, and any other compensation levels. Also provide contracts for contracted positions. Also provide job descriptions for each employee type.

  6. Have you considered Volunteer Fire Fighters to supplement full time fire fighters when there is a surge in demand? Have you considered using volunteer firefighters during special events and gatherings?

  7. Please provide an all inclusive list of all city bank accounts, investments, funds, retirement accounts and their balances and purpose.

  8. Please provide a detailed budget for each department with itemized expenditures in full detail.

  9. Will council take a voluntary pay cut and revert their salaries back to the city?

  10. Please provide the costs of the following:

    1. Cost of holding a special election to increase millage this year.

    2. Costs of arbitration with each union per month ad to date 2010.

    3. Costs of all Attorney fees including during negotiations with unions 2010.

    4. Costs of all consultants yearly, used for any purpose for each year 2007-2010

Thank you,

Sean House

F.A.C.T.

Ferndale Against Council's Tax


Saturday, January 15, 2011

STORY OF A FERNDALE TAXPAYER

[ACTUALLY A PRECINCT FULL OF THEM]
Once upon our winter weary, Mom and I and kids were dreary,
Telling a story and then one more, Drooping eyelids, ready for snores,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

(End of the loose modern interpretation of Edgar Allen Poe)

So I strode to the door to see who was there and it was a shoveler asking to take on my sidewalk. Whilest he began his pitch, I politely interrupted feigning disinterest. He interrupted me saying "HEAR ME OUT!"

I was a bit taken aback by his abrupt remark and when he finished his proposal I asked about his obvious frustration. He had stated that despite his lowering of prices from the past few winters he had lost accounts and even the neighborhood wide door to door effort has yielded no fruit. I explained my layoff and told him that we couldn't afford to pay the $10 he offered despite its value. He summarily huffed away with my apologies and a prayer for his good fortune.

When I closed the door I felt badly for him as he had shared that he had walked 7 full streets from Woodward to the tracks without a taker.

As I laid, pondering our conversation it occurred to me....

How many snowfalls in a typical Ferndale winter? I found out it averages 21 snowfalls. At $10 apiece it would be $210. But we can't afford it. Not even one time. In 7 blocks of households. That is about the size of my entire precinct.

So my question is this...

If the City Council is convinced that that know what we can afford better than us...and despite 73% of the homeowners expressing opposition to the plan and the other 27% expressing a neutral position when presented on December 29th in an open forum...why do they continue to push this issue. If we have no money, then why are we wasting anytime on this at all.

I think you should call the City Manager currently Bob Bruner and ask him why and share your opposition. The City Manager's office number is (248) 546-2360. Next time we call City Council directly.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

THIS FIGHT CAN BE WON

Contrary to the opinion of the "Citizens" Financial Committee, there is ways to get through this without a millage increase. We have our best scouring the city financial reports for ways to cut.

THINK ABOUT THESE...

#1 What if it is worse then their predictions....do we raise it again? and again? When does it stop?

#2 Why can't government, when its income drops, cut their budget just like each of us do when OUR INCOME DROPS??

#3 Is forcing dozens of families to abandon their homes help Ferndale?

#4 Does cutting Police and Fire help Ferndale?

#5 Is keeping the DDA or the Kulick Center or any other program worth a few dozen more families losing their homes??

#6 Is their any reason the DDA, Kulick Center or Library couldn't be self sufficient based on their own incomes??

As times get tough, we must ask ourselves tough questions. We must remember not to be selfish and work together to find a solution. Feeding more money into City Government time and time again is NOT that solution!

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

3RD HIGHEST MILLAGE RATE IN THE COUNTY

HIGHEST MILLAGE RATES OAKLAND COUNTY

1. Oak Park
64.9183
2. Hazel Park 64.6779
3. FERNDALE 64.4573
[a 5.442 increase would go to 69.8993 and put us at #1]

4. Hunt Wds
59.9983
5. Pleasant Rg
59.3323


Lowest??
Southfield Twp (Lath Vill & Bev Hills)
37.0995


Is this what we want??

Join the fight....email seanMhouse@gmail.com

BUILDING COALITIONS

Today we begin building coalitions with groups and businesses around town. We will meet with business leaders and groups to determine how we can defeat the upcoming millage and subsequent millage attempts.

YOU CAN HELP by submitting your name as being against the tax increase by emailing here. Then talk to your your friends and neighbors and ask them to do the same.

WE will defeat the millage increase!

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

RADIO TUNES INTO FERNDALE

This afternoon I was interviewed by WDET 101.9 regarding the TAX FIGHT in Ferndale. Please tune in today & tomorrow and when you hear about it call in to express your thoughts!

OUR FIGHT HAS MADE THE PAPER

This morning the Detroit News wrote this article on our fight against the millage increase. Others are noticing our fight and we must band together now and begin our fight against it.

We will be meeting soon to begin this campaign. We are meeting with groups and businesses across Ferndale already to gather support. Please take the time to fight it now....otherwise it may be to late for many families in Ferndale who may lose their home.

Send me your name, phone number and email today so we can gather those interested in fighting the taxes....even if you do not have time to donate we need to know you are there!!

Contact me at 248-224-1973 or email at SeanMHouse@gmail.com (<--click here)

Monday, January 10, 2011

QUESTIONS FOR CITY COUNCIL

City Council meets tonight at 7:00pm in Council Chambers in the basement of City Hall. We encourage ALL residents to be present and make their voice heard.

Here are a few questions for City Council tonight:

1. The Financial committee claimed their recommendation was a "rough Draft" and "open to input from residents" yet despite 8 of 11 people opposing the Headlee override at the citizen presentation and all of them dissenting at the following Financial committee meeting the recommendation still came forward. Why?

2. Using the logic of when things get better in five years when EVERYTHING points to not getting better for much longer than that, is absurd. The Deputy County Executive came and told the Financial Committee that yet they ignored it! Why?

3. Why hasn't the city council taken a voluntary roll back to to ease the budgetary issues?

4. The is a Opposition forming to the tax increase across Ferndale, please contact SEAN HOUSE @ 248-224-1973 or by email at SEANMHOUSE@GMAIL.com. You can also visit OUR FERNDALE DOT BLOGSPOT DOT COM (Or Ferndale.BlogSpot.com)

I will be updating this until 5:00pm today.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN QUESTIONS IN THE COMMENT SECTION BELOW:

CALL TO COUNCIL MEETING....TONIGHT!!!!

HELLO ALL!

TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT THEY PRESENT THE FINANCIAL COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL.

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR EACH AND EVERYONE TO BE THERE TO VOICE THEIR OPPOSITION TO IT.

DURING CALL TO AUDIENCE SIMPLY SAY YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND THAT YOU DO NOT WANT ANY TAX INCREASE.

THEY ARE KEEPING A TALLY....LET'S MAKE SURE IT IS OVERWHELMINGLY AGAINST ANY TAX!!!!!!!!

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

DO YOU BELIEVE?

I don't know why I do....but I love this town.

I moved here in 1981, attended and graduated from Ferndale High School in 1985, and watched this city got through many changes. I know I haven't been here as long as some people, but I do love this town. So does my mother who still lives here. So did my Dad who started the Woodward Dream Cruise here in Ferndale by caring enough to raise money to build a soccer field for kids.

I love this town. And I just don't think you need to run out 1/3 to 1/2 of its population by raising taxes in order to make it better. Ferndale has survived some rough times and God willing we will this time too.

I just don't think a huge tax increase is the solution. It seems to me like the easy way out. Getting through this will be hard. There is no doubt. But we have to do it while maintaining our residents as best we can. We will lose enough to attrition as it is....we do not need to add to it.

I believe in Ferndale. Do you believe?

Monday, January 3, 2011

11 Suggestions for NO TAX INCREASES in Ferndale

While it is easy to complain about what is happening it is sometimes hard to offer real solutions.

So much for the Financial Committees (lack of) recommendations.
So I have thought for 36 hours (not 14 weeks) and come up with 11 suggestions....

1. Cut - Cut - Cut! Get rid of everything we don't need to survive or trim it to the bare bones minimums.

2. Freeze on ALL Non-Essential Spending - In times of budget crisis you do not buy new software, remodel city hall or buy new things. Those are extras for when you have a surplus.

3. Renegotiate all Salaries Most people would rather renegotiate than to lose their job. Bring down the wages to at or below industry or area averages. It is not popular but it may save us!

4. Fire & Rehire: Employees can be fired and rehired at lower wages. Benefit costs can be shared. Extras can be cut.

5. Freeze Wages Once we are at a reasonable level of payroll, a complete Freeze on wages and benefits.

6. Privatize: Certain areas of service can be privatized and may save us considerable money.

7. Eliminate the DDA - Never have liked the idea of a taxing agency that wasn't elected. Not to mention, we need the money more than downtown needs a cheerleader.

8. Sponsorships: Plenty of businesses would sponsor city events, areas within the city and pay for it for naming rights.

9. Lease City land/Property: Businesses could pay for short term use of properties.

10. End tax incentives for new business - Why should new business gain favor over established businesses in Ferndale. Level the playing field.

11. Work Off Your Fine - Encourage citizens to volunteer and give community service to work off fines, fees and costs owed to the city.

I cannot understand why people have a difficult time with budgeting.

Whether you are a family, a small business or a municipality, you do the same thing people do when they receive a loss of income....trim their budget to match. You don't get a pay cut and then go buy 2 new cars and a new furniture!

Ferndale's Hot List of City Hall's wasteful spending:

Totem Pole $30,000

Crows Nest $75,000

Multiple Consulting Fees $100,000 plus each (multiple)

Raising their own salaries $25,000+ a year

Cancel May elections $10-$20,000/election


Need I go on???

If you know of more wasteful city spending or have more ideas on how to cut please comment here or email me at SeanMHouse@gmail.com

CALL TO CITIZENS OF FERNDALE

Lets convene our own Citizens Committee to offer suggestions to Council for our budget woes. Contact me at 248-224-1973 or the email above.

Believe me when I tell you that there were many people with options that were ignored or muzzled. That time is over.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

EXPLAINING THE OBVIOUS

It always piques my interest when I am asked by people, mainly ones used to spending to cover deficits, what else can be done.

Recently, I have been questioned by several in the community about what else can be done in Ferndale.

Well, I can sure answer that one!

1. Cut - Cut - Cut! Get rid of everything we don't need to survive or cut it to the bare bones minimums.

2. Freeze Non-Essential Spending - In times of budget crisis you do not buy new software, remodel city hall or buy new things. Those are extras for when you have a surplus.

3. Freeze Wages All city Employees should take a pay cut to industry averages or below. Employess can be fired and rehired at lower wages. Benefit costs can be shared. Extras can be cut. Once we are at a reasonable level, a complete Freeze on wages and benefits.

I cannot understand why people have a difficult time with budgeting. Whether you are a family, a small business or a municipality, you do the same thing people do when they receive a loss of income....trim their budget to match. You don't get a pay cut and then go buy 2 new cars and a new furniture!

Ferndale's Hot List of City Hall's wasteful spending:

Totem Pole - Cambourne & Woodward - $30,000
Crows Nest - 9 Mile & Woodward - $75,000
Multiple Consulting Fees - $100,000 plus each
Raising their own salaries - $25,000+ a year
Last city to cancel May elections - $10,000-$20,000/election

Need I go on???

If you know of more wasteful city spending or have more ideas on how to cut please comment here or email me at SeanMHouse@gmail.com

CALL TO CITIZENS OF FERNDALE

Lets convene our own Citizens Committee to offer suggestions to Council for our budget woes. Contact me at 248-224-1973 or the email above.

Believe me when I tell you that there were many people with options that were ignored or muzzled. That time is over.