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TO: The Citizens of Ferndale:
Your City Commission believes you are interested in the many municipal problems faced
by your otlicials and would like to take this opportunity to briefly discuss some of the more
important.
It is interesting to note that, over the years City tax rates have been held at an almost con-
stant level. This has been accomplished while at the same time we have constructed a new
public library building, a new fire station, black topped many miles of old concrete pavements,
modernized our equipment and made many other public improvements.
Bonds have continued to be retired on schedule and Red Run and Clinton River drain
improvement assessments amounting to $256,118.41 have been paid in full. Reserves have been
established which allow us to finance our own special assessments instead of issuing bonds.
Like most family budgets your City never has sufficient money to do all of the things we would
like, however we sincerely believe our overall condition to be the best in the City's history.
Increases in tax rates have been almost entirely for School purposes with some increase
in County rates. The following are rates for past years given in dollars per $1,000.00 of local
assessed value.
The City Tax rate established by the City Commission at $19.80 per thousand will remain
the same for 1955. The tax rates for school and County purposes have not, as of this date, been
established.
Year
1937
1942
1947
1952
1953
., \,., ,,
1 :1:J'1:
City
19.35
19.70
19.70
19.80
19.80
19.80
City Drain
At Large
2.00
2.00
2.00
School District School District
No. 9 Ferndale No. 8 Hazel Park County
17.40 18.98 5.78
18.00 .17 .00 6.02
24.20 18.60 6.20
29.90 32.60 7.32
31.00 32.35 7.40
31.20 41.40 8.34
Thus taxes on property assessed at $3,000.00 would have been in 1937 and 1954 as follows:
Year
1937
1954
City
58.05
59.40
City Drain
At Large
6.00
School District School District
No. 9 Ferndale No. 8 Hazel Park
52.20 56.94
93.60 124.20
One of 'the First Buildings to be Built in the Proposed Civic Center
County
17.34
25.02
First Quarter of 1955
Installing a Section of the Improved lVater System
WATER
\!Ve have sold bonds to finance a $650,000.00 im-
provement to our water system. This will construct a
3,000,000 gallon storage tank on Hilton Road, South of
Nine Mile, a pumping station, and additional trans-
mission mains. All of our water is purchased directly
from Detroit and we of necessity must continue to abide
by their sprinkling regulations. We are confident how-
ever that our extreme low pressure problem will be
solved. It is hoped that construction will proceed rapidly
enough to realize some relief during the 1955 summer
season.
Our Water Department has been completely separated from other City activities. It is entirely
self sustaining and the bonds mentioned above will be retired out of the rates charged to customers.
SEWERS
Many residents have been plagued for years with flooded basements. Plans for relief have
been talked about for years. At last something concrete is, being accomplished toward a solution.
Engineers have been retained and are now at work preparing plans and specifications for the
necessary sewers. It is a large task and reliet is probably about two years away. It is also
expensive, costs cannot be computed accurately until plans are finished but preliminary esti-
mates place Ferndale's share at from three to three and one half million dollars.
PARKING
To date the City has spent approximately $250,000.00, all out of parking meter revenues,
for the acquisition and development of off-street parking facilities.
Parking space for over 150 additional cars has been added adjacent to the business district
in the past year. The City has and will continue to use revenues from parking meters for parking
purposes after deducting collection and maintenance costs. To secure the parking advance-
ments made this past year, we have had to use future meter revenues advanced from other sources.
If any additional spaces are to be provided in the immediate future some other means of financing
. will of necessity have to be found.
One of the
Rest Rooms Being
Installed in
Our City Parks
Work is Progressing on the Over-pass.
It is Expected to be in Operation by August 30.
GENERAL
We have continued to add to our Police and Fire Department personnel an_d provide them
with modern and up-to-date equipment for your greater safety. Fire protection improvements
resulted last year in an adjustment in our rating from Class 6 to Class 5.
Your City Officials are proud of their past record and are conscious of the need of future
progress. Accordingly, plans are being made for the early construction of a new No. l Fire Station
and the subsequent construction of a new City Hall.
We are becoming pretty well built-up which that large increases in assessed values can-
not be expected. We feel Ferndale has developed into a well balanced community. We are proud
of our residential areas, the. business sections are a credit to the City ap.d the industrial area
largely is occupied by firms that would be a credit to any community. Over 553 of the tax
burden is assessed. to business and industry:
The purpose of all City Employees is to serve you. If you have questions regarding ordinances
or any phase of the City's activities do not hesitate to call.
Fire
Police and Safety
Election, Licenses, Ordinances
Garbage, Rubbish, Streets, Sewers
Taxes
Water Bills
Trees - Spraying, Removing, etc.
Fire Department
Police Department
City Clerk
Public Works Dept.
City Treasurer
\Vater Department
City Forester .
LI. 1-3600
LI. 1-3650
LI. 1-3200
LI. 1-3200
LI. 1-3200
LI. 1-3200
LI.
A N O F F I C I A L B U L L E T I N
F r o m t h e
C I T Y O F F E R N D A L E
2 1 2 0 5 W o o d w a r d A v e n u e
F e r n d a l e 2 0 , M i c h i g a n
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