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Ferndale superintendent briefs council on Oakland County 1.5‑mill enhancement proposal and local impacts
Summary
Ferndale Public Schools Superintendent Camille Hibler gave an informational briefing on an Oakland County regional enhancement millage voters will consider in August: a 1.5‑mill, six‑year countywide millage that the ISD would collect and distribute equally per pupil, an estimated $781 per pupil annually and about $150 per year for a $200,000 market‑value home. The presentation was informational only; no council action was requested.
Camille Hibler, superintendent of Ferndale Public Schools, told the Ferndale City Council the proposed Oakland County enhancement millage on the August ballot is an informational measure that would add 1.5 mills for six years and be collected countywide by the intermediate school district.
"My name is Camille Hibler, proud superintendent, Ferndale Public Schools," Hibler said at the start of her presentation, stressing the briefing was not a request for city endorsement. She described how the millage would be distributed equally per pupil to all eligible public school districts in Oakland County.
Hibler outlined estimated impacts: should the measure pass, each public school student in Oakland County would carry an estimated additional $781 per year in operating revenue for their district — $4,686 over the six‑year life of the proposal — and a homeowner with a $200,000 market‑value home would see an approximate annual tax increase of $150. Collection would begin as early as December 2026 if voters approve the August ballot question.
Hibler explained why districts are discussing the proposal, pointing to a combination of rising operating costs, staffing pressures and growing student needs that are outpacing current revenue tools. She said regional enhancement millages are one of the few local operating exceptions under Michigan law and noted that 44% of Michigan students already receive regional enhancement funds in their counties; Oakland County currently does not.
The superintendent described likely local uses for the funds — recruit and retain staff, stabilize special education services, preserve programming across grade levels and support operations such as transportation, technology and security — while emphasizing local school boards would retain discretion in how their district spent the money.
Hibler also walked through the election timeline for the August 4, 2026 ballot and pointed residents toward a county tax calculator at oaklandenhancement.com for parcel‑level estimates. She repeatedly framed the session as informational: "This is not an ask for city council action. This is not an endorsement presentation," she said.
Council members did not take formal action. The presentation concluded with an offer from Hibler to answer follow‑up questions for council or the community.
