The voters of the Ferndale School District will decide the fate of the operations levy renewal.

This is not a letter debating whether or not to have such a levy. This is a letter to alert Ferndale voters that the proposed levy will be an increase of more than 15 percent from the current levy due to expire this year.

By 2016, we will be paying 37.4 percent more than now. On top of that, we are constantly being told "this is not a new tax." I would surely consider several hundred dollars more per year a "new tax." Please be aware of the numbers as you vote.

Clint Burgess

Ferndale