The Review Magazine Spring 2025

“ We thought with the complexity of the override and the affordability issues of a millage vote, bringing residents directly into the fold was really the only pathway to success. ” – Joseph Gacioch, City Manager

“What I said in those meetings is that going to 18 mills would have been a slight increase from where we were at and been more palatable for voters,” she said. “But it wouldn’t get us the recreational facilities we wanted or address the major building concerns we had with the police and fire departments.” Although she voted no, Zeagler led the campaign to pass the 2024 Headlee override millage proposal. She said she did so after hearing “how excited people were” about the prospect of having new facilities, an enthusiasm generated in part by the work of her committee. Zeagler said the City needs extra revenue to upgrade its facilities, many of which are between 60 and 100 years old. Ferndale also needs to become more financially competitive in recruiting talent, particularly in its police and fire departments. “Our police officers could make about $10,000 to $20,000 a year working somewhere else. If we want good people working for the City in general, you at least have to pay them as much as those working in the community next door.” Panel Vice Chair David Hoppe also voted against the committee’s recommendations. Rather than ask voters for more money, Hoppe believes the City should be more focused on cutting costs. He also said he thinks city government needs to define its needs more clearly before asking voters to dig deeper into their pockets. “Everybody wants a better community and a place where people can thrive at all income levels,” said Hoppe, a certified public accountant. “The City needs to find a middle ground.” Despite their “no” votes, Hoppe and Zeagler said there were a lot of good ideas for the City to consider, including a recommendation the City hire an outside expert to review city finances. And the committee’s work has led to some cost cuts, like reducing election costs by decreasing the number of voting precincts due to increased absentee and early voting. Was the committee’s work worthwhile? “Absolutely,” Zeagler said. “It was a beneficial experience to everyone on the committee. It’s helped to educate others in the community about the City’s finances.” Gacioch said it was an important tool in “building a bench” of civic-minded community leaders. Many of the committee members went on to serve the city on other boards and commissions. Among them, Zeagler is running for a city council seat.

Zeagler and Gacioch said the committee’s work reaffirmed an inconvenient truth about municipal finance: Ferndale can’t control its own destiny because of tax limitations imposed by state law and the legal inability to create local taxing authorities for combined services. “They need to step up,” Gacioch said about state policymakers. “Our hands are tied. We can’t solve these issues.” Rick Haglund is a freelance writer. You may contact Rick at 248-761-4594 or haglund.rick@gmail.com.

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