Published: June 19, 2009 12:10 am      

Ferndale Area raises taxes, says homeowners will pay less

Ferndale Area School District’s board has unanimously adopted a 2009-10 budget of $10,591,007.

The budget includes a tax increase of 3.5 mills, bringing the millage for 2009-10 to 63.

The increase will cost the average taxpayer about $35, said John P. Kowal, business manager.

But he said most taxpayers actually will pay less in taxes because of state money provided through the Homestead and Farmstead Exclusion Act.

The current budget is $10,165,864.

Kowal said the millage increase for next year will help the district to continue paying for construction projects that resulted in a new gymnasium and other renovations for the elementary school and new roofing for the high school. A bond issue was approved in 2002 for those projects.

Another reason for the higher millage is general cost-of-living increases, he added. One mill of real-estate taxation brings in about $14,500.

All other taxes will remain the same.

Kowal said the board approved providing homeowners within the district a $213 decrease in their tax bills as a result of the Homestead and Farmstead Exclusion Act. The reduction applies only to those who own the home or farm where they reside.

The state funds the act from gambling revenues.