Wayne and Oakland County Voters to Weigh 10-Year Millage for Detroit's Historical Museums
A 0.2 mill property tax on the Nov. 3 ballot would fund the Charles H. Wright Museum, the Detroit Historical Museum and the Dossin Great Lakes Museum and provide free admission for county residents.
By Natalia Campos ·
Voters in Wayne and Oakland counties will decide on Nov. 3 whether to approve a 10-year property tax aimed at sustaining some of Detroit's best-loved historical institutions and keeping their doors open free of charge to county residents.
The measure appears on ballots as the Southeast Michigan Public Historical Museum Authority Millage Proposal. Backed by a campaign called "Yes to Our Story," it would levy 0.2 mill in both counties through 2035. The money would support the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, the Detroit Historical Museum and the Dossin Great Lakes Museum.
For homeowners, the cost would be roughly $30 a year for every $300,000 of taxable property value. That figure applies equally in Wayne and Oakland counties and would continue for the full 10 years if voters give their approval.
According to the ballot proposal, the levy would raise about $12.2 million from Wayne County and about $17.7 million from Oakland County in 2026. Those funds would go toward the three Detroit museums.
Over the decade, the revenue would be divided among the institutions. It would help cover free admission for county residents, free tours and transportation for students and seniors, and new curriculum materials for teachers. It would also go toward the care of nearly 300,000 publicly owned artifacts.
The ballot language in both counties adds that 15% of the revenue would be distributed to support other historical museums in Oakland and Wayne counties. That share would be paid out after "Authority administrative expenses." The Yes to Our Story campaign says annual independent audits would show how the money is spent.
Supporters argue the museums need a steadier financial footing. According to the campaign, both the Charles H. Wright Museum and the Detroit Historical Museum have "survived by drawing down their reserves for years." The campaign says the millage would make the institutions more sustainable and give them a more stable future from one year to the next.
More information about the proposal and the campaign is available at yestoourstory.com.
Originally published by News Media House · Source: ClickOnDetroit (WDIV Local 4)
