A FA
Y PAN
NED MICHIGAN C Y-OW OM MIL
candgnews.com MAY 22, 2024 Vol. 21, No. 11
DODGE SUPER BEE CREATES A BUZZ /10A
HOURS: MON-SAT 8:30AM – 8PM, SUN 10AM – 6PM
0219-2421
Not to be combined with any other Premier Dollars Off, Loyalty Points, Curbside or Delivery. One per customer account. Not to be combined with Senior, Military, First Responder or any like discount. With Coupon. Expires 6-23-24
Ferndale puts millage questions on November ballot BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com
See MILLAGE on page 15A
Event Director Julia Music said the theme of this year’s Ferndale Pride is “transcendence” and she’s excited to celebrate the gains of the transgender community over the last year. File photo by Donna Dalziel
Ferndale once again ready to celebrate the Pride of LGBTQ+ community BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com
FERNDALE — The city of Ferndale’s massive celebration of Pride and the LGBTQ+ community will make its colorful return next month. The 14th annual Ferndale Pride festival will take place from 12:30 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 1, in the downtown. The event’s footprint is located at West Nine Mile Road between Woodward and Livernois avenues and portions of Planavon and Al
2024 Subaru Outback
len streets near West Nine Mile. The theme for this year’s Pride is “transcendence.” Event Director Julia Music said organizers are especially excited this year because of the number of transgender people representing the state of Michigan in the national pageant system, such as Michael Christian and Blanca Sapphire. “We’re really excited to talk about the amazing gains in the transgender community over the last year and how Michigan really is able to foster the See PRIDE on page 8A
2024 Subaru Forester
*Manufacturer Offer. No down payment required. Financing for well-qualified applicants only. Length of contract is limited. Subject to credit approval, vehicle insurance approval and vehicle availability model OUTBACK RDF, RDG, RDH, RDI, RDJ, RDL. From dealer stock by 5/31/2024
Woodward Ave. N. of 8 Mile • FERNDALE HodgesSubaru.com • 248.547.8800
0140-2419
FERNDALE — Approved at its May 13 meeting, the Ferndale City Council voted unanimously to approve a proposal for a Headlee override, as well as a charter amendment to establish a “special purpose millage to support police and fire facilities and recreation facilities and operations.” The ballot language reads, “Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be imposed on taxable property in the City of Ferndale, County of Oakland, State of Michigan be increased by 8.5856 mills ($8.5856 per thousand dollars of taxable value) indefinitely beginning in 2025, as new additional millage in excess of the limitation imposed by Michigan Compiled Laws section 211.34d, to restore City Charter operating millage authorization previously approved by the electors as reduced by operation of the Headlee amendment, to provide funds for general operating purposes? It is estimated that 8.5856 mills would raise approximately $8,181,810 when first levied in 2025.” The move to add a question to the ballot is a recommendation from the city’s Resident Finance Committee. The committee was formed to study how a renewal or nonrenewal of the override, which is set to expire Dec. 31, 2025, might impact current staffing and service levels and impact progress toward the recommendations from the 2022 resident-led facilities task force. The city charter operating millage for 2025, according to City Manager Joe Gacioch, will be 11.4144 mills. With the 2015 10-year Headlee override millage of 4.2808, the 2025 combined general operating millage