Detroit voters approve 10-year funding for zoo and museums, adding up to $40 in annual taxes
Property owners in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties will pay between $10 and $40 annually to sustain local cultural institutions.
By Larissa Shah ·
Property owners in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties voted on Tuesday to secure a decade of public funding for the Detroit Zoo, the Detroit Historical Society, and The Wright. The measure resolved a funding uncertainty that had left these institutions relying on unstable private revenue streams.
The Detroit Zoo millage passed with 71.4% of the vote across the tri-county area. This vote renews a funding stream originally approved in 2008, preventing a financial gap that would have occurred after more than 15 years of stable support. For the zoo, the tax increase amounts to $10 per year for a home with a market value of $200,000.
The museum millage, which covers the Detroit Historical Society and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, passed with 59.5% approval in Wayne and Oakland counties. This measure was presented as a combined package to reduce reliance on admissions and donations. The annual cost for this millage is $20 per year for a home with $100,000 in taxable value, or $40 for a home with $200,000 in taxable value.
The vote addresses a specific financial pressure on The Wright, which must raise $10 million annually to remain operational. Neil A. Barclay, the museum's president and CEO, noted that generating this amount every 12 months is a heavy burden for a relatively small non-profit organization.
In exchange for the property tax, residents of the participating counties will receive free admission to both museums. Seniors and students will gain access to free transportation for tours, while teachers will receive new curriculum resources and professional training. The measure also ensures the permanent protection of the publicly owned collections and artifacts held by both institutions.
A mill is a unit of property tax equal to one-tenth of a cent per dollar of taxable value, or $1 for every $1,000 of taxable value. Michigan taxable values are typically lower than market values, which influences the final annual cost for homeowners.
Both millages are set to run for 10 years. This duration locks in stable institutional funding and eliminates the need for annual fundraising efforts to cover basic operating costs.
