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Ferndale board hears 2025–26 budget assumptions, affirms 18‑mill levy and adopts budget resolutions
Summary
At its June 16 meeting the Ferndale School Board reviewed 2025–26 budget assumptions including an 18‑mill operating levy request, a 7‑mill debt levy and a 1.0652 sinking‑fund rate; staff projected roughly $50.8 million in revenue against $53.3 million in expenditures, a $2.5 million gap.
The Ferndale School Board on June 16 reviewed budget assumptions for 2025–26 and approved related budget and millage resolutions. District staff said they are seeking an 18‑mill operating levy to secure full state foundation funding, a 7‑mill debt levy tied to outstanding obligations, and a sinking‑fund levy set at 1.0652 after a rollback from a prior 1.3 figure.
Administrators summarized the assumptions that underlie the general fund plan: a planning enrollment of 3,122 full‑time‑equivalent students; a per‑pupil foundation allowance increase of roughly $392 to $10,000; and projected total revenue of about $50,824,000. Total expenditures were presented as approximately $53.3 million, producing an estimated operating gap of about $2.5 million and an estimated ending fund balance near $7.9 million (about 15% of the fund), according to the presentation.
On the revenue side, the L‑429 tax rate request form — the district’s formal tax‑rate filing to municipalities — was presented to the board. A staff presenter explained the L‑429 is the routine vehicle by which the district requests local millage; the board approved motions on related tax and budget resolutions as part of the consent agenda.
Board members asked clarifying questions about potential state and federal funding uncertainty and about the non‑homestead mill; staff warned that if non‑homestead revenues fall they may need to place a millage before voters to maintain the 18‑mill threshold. The presentation also listed several expense assumptions, including no UAW step increases, modest increases to some benefit rates (retirement budgeted near 29.91%), and a planned one‑vehicle installment purchase.
The consent agenda approved later in the meeting included the district’s 2025–26 general fund original budget resolution and the L‑4029/L‑429 tax filings. The motions passed by roll call with the affirmative votes recorded by board members on the dais.
What happens next: staff said they will post updated slides and the complete budget packet to the district site and follow up with municipalities after the L‑429 is submitted.
