$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!

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!]
   

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

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

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.

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!

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!

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)

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!!!!!!!!

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?

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.

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.