Ferndale Public Schools — Operating Millage Replacement Proposal (Oakland County)

What it does

This proposal, if approved by the electors, would, replace, restore and extend the authority of the School District to levy the statutory limit of 18 mills on all property, except principal residences and other property exempted by law, which currently expires with the School District’s 2035 tax levy and allow the School District to continue to levy the statutory limit of 18 mills in the event of future Headlee rollbacks required by the Michigan Constitution of up to 2 mills. The authorization will allow the School District to continue to receive revenues at the full per pupil foundation allowance permitted by the State. Shall the limitation on the total amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residences and other property exempted by law, situated within the Ferndale Public Schools, County of Oakland, State of Michigan, be increased, in the amount of 20 mills with 18 mills being the maximum allowable levy ($18.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation), for a period of twenty (20) years, 2027 to 2046, inclusive, with 16.3262 mills of the above 20 mills being a replacement of authorized millage which will otherwise expire with the 2035 tax levy and 1.6738 mills being a restoration of previously authorized millage lost as a result of the rollbacks required by the Michigan Constitution? This operating millage if approved and levied, would provide estimated revenues to the School District of $6,742,038 during the 2027 calendar year, to be used for general operating purposes.

A YES vote means

Ferndale Public Schools could keep levying up to 18 mills on property other than primary homes for twenty years, 2027 to 2046, replacing millage that expires with the 2035 levy and restoring 1.6738 mills lost to rollbacks, raising about $6,742,038 in 2027 for operations.

A NO vote means

Ferndale Public Schools' current operating millage would not be replaced and extended, and would still expire with the 2035 levy.

Needed to pass

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Left–right lean

Unclear: our AI read of the official summary isn't confident enough (we require 70%) to place this on the left–right spectrum, so we don't. Read the summary and decide for yourself.

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Background

In Michigan, school districts must levy 18 mills on non-homestead property (mainly businesses, rental and other property that is not a principal residence) to receive their full per-pupil foundation allowance from the state; principal residences are exempt from this levy.

The Ferndale Public Schools Board of Education placed this proposal on the ballot; according to the ballot language, the district's current authorization expires with the 2035 levy, and the proposal would authorize up to 20 mills (18 levied) for 2027 through 2046, replacing 16.3262 mills and restoring 1.6738 mills lost to required rollbacks.

The extra authorization above 18 mills would let the district keep levying the full 18 mills if future Headlee rollbacks occur; the ballot language estimates $6,742,038 in 2027.

Put on the ballot by Ferndale Public Schools Board of Education (2026).

From official source.

Next elections here

• 2028 presidential election · Who has filed so far, from FEC filings

Also on Oakland County ballots

• Birmingham Public Schools — School Facilities and Safety Improvement Bond Proposal
• Farmington Public School District — School Improvement Bond Proposition
• Lake Orion Community Schools — School Improvement Bond Proposition
• The Lamphere Schools — School Improvement Bond Proposition
• Royal Oak Schools — School Improvement Bond Proposition
• Waterford School District — Replacement Non-Homestead Operating Millage Proposal

All Oakland County races and measures →

Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Ferndale Public Schools mean?

Ferndale Public Schools could keep levying up to 18 mills on property other than primary homes for twenty years, 2027 to 2046, replacing millage that expires with the 2035 levy and restoring 1.6738 mills lost to rollbacks, raising about $6,742,038 in 2027 for operations.

What does a NO vote on Ferndale Public Schools mean?

Ferndale Public Schools' current operating millage would not be replaced and extended, and would still expire with the 2035 levy.

How many votes does Ferndale Public Schools need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Should I vote yes or no on Ferndale Public Schools?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

When is the vote?

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.