What Ferndale's two charter questions would change: running for mayor and filling council vacancies

Ferndale voters will decide two city charter amendments on Nov. 3. The ballot wording names only the charter sections involved, so it doesn't say much about what would change. City Manager Colleen O'Toole explained both to C&G Newspapers in a story published Tuesday.

Amendment 1: Running for mayor without resigning

Ballot question: whether to delete and repeal Chapter IV (Registration, Nomination and Election), Section 5 of the charter, "Resignation of Commissioner [Council member]."

What it would do: Under the current charter, a council member whose term doesn't end in the same year as the mayor's must resign from council to run for mayor, O'Toole told C&G. Council members whose terms line up with the mayor's race don't have to resign.

If the amendment passes, no council member would have to resign to run. A council member who loses the mayor's race would keep their council seat for the rest of the term. One who wins would leave a council vacancy to be filled, O'Toole said.

O'Toole told C&G the city found that more than 90% of other Michigan communities don't require council members to resign to run for mayor. She said the change is meant to cut down on how often the council has to fill vacancies.

A yes vote repeals the resignation requirement. A no vote keeps the current rule.

Amendment 2: Filling council vacancies sooner

Ballot question: whether to amend Chapter III of the charter, "Vacancies In Elective Offices."

What it would do: Today, when a council seat opens up, the council appoints a replacement. That person serves out the term or until the next odd-year election, when Ferndale holds its mayor and council races, according to O'Toole.

The amendment would let voters fill the seat at whichever comes first, the next even-year or odd-year election. In practice, a vacancy could be filled almost any November, O'Toole told C&G. She said the change would put the seat in front of voters sooner and rely less on appointments.

A yes vote amends the vacancies chapter. Based on O'Toole's explanation, a vacant seat would then go to voters at the next even- or odd-year election, whichever comes first. A no vote keeps the current system, in which appointees serve until the next odd-year election or the end of the term.

C&G's story included explanations from city and school officials only. It did not include comments from anyone opposed to either amendment or the millage.

Also on Ferndale ballots: school operating millage

Ferndale Public Schools is asking voters to replace and restore its operating millage on non-homestead property. Primary residences are exempt. The district now levies 16.32 mills after Headlee rollbacks. The proposal would bring that back to the full 18 mills, C&G reported.

The ballot question asks for authority of up to 20 mills for 20 years, 2027 through 2046, with no more than 18 mills levied. Of the 20 mills, 16.3262 would replace authority that otherwise expires with the 2035 levy and 1.6738 would restore millage lost to rollbacks, according to the ballot language. The extra 2 mills would let the district keep levying 18 if future rollbacks cut the rate again, Deputy Superintendent Felicia Wright told C&G. The ballot language estimates $6,742,038 in revenue in 2027. If approved, the millage would take effect July 1, 2027, C&G reported.

Wright told C&G the full 18 mills is needed for the district to receive its whole per-pupil foundation allowance from the state. She said that allowance rose from $10,050 last year to $10,300 this year. The money pays for negotiated teacher salaries and costs like utilities and bus fuel, she said.

A yes vote lets the district go back to levying 18 mills on non-homestead property and extends its authority through 2046. A no vote leaves the current levy and authority, which expires with the 2035 levy, in place.

The district has more information at ferndaleschools.org/page/millage.

Other local questions are in our Nov. 3 ballot roundup and school ballot guide. Early voting starts Saturday; see our early voting guide.

Sources: C&G Newspapers (Oct. 20, 2026), including ballot language; Oakland County Clerk's official Nov. 3 proposal list; earlier Journal coverage.