BLACK mobile logo

detroit

education

Detroit council backs museum millage campaign

September 30, 2026

The Detroit City Council has passed a resolution supporting a November ballot proposal that would establish a 10-year property tax millage to fund the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History and the Detroit Historical Society. The measure would levy 0.

Who is affected

  • Detroit City Council members (Scott Benson, Denzel McCampbell, Renata Miller)
  • Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
  • Detroit Historical Society (which operates the Detroit Historical Museum and Dossin Great Lakes Museum)
  • Property owners in Wayne and Oakland counties
  • Detroit residents and families
  • Students and seniors
  • Teachers
  • Museum members and small children (who currently receive free admission)

What action is being taken

  • The City Council approved a resolution supporting the "Yes to Our Story" Campaign
  • Absentee ballots are being distributed across the state
  • The ballot proposal is going before voters on November 3
  • The museums are advocating for the joint millage

Why it matters

  • This millage proposal is significant because it would provide stable, long-term funding for two cultural institutions that have struggled with basic operating costs for years, similar to the sustainable revenue model already established for the Detroit Institute of Arts and Detroit library. The museums preserve and share critical historical narratives, including the African American experience and Metro Detroit's history, with over 300,000 publicly owned artifacts that would be permanently protected. By making admission free to county residents and providing free transportation for students and seniors, the millage would democratize access to these institutions and ensure historical preservation for future generations, particularly at a time when Council members note efforts to erase certain communities' histories.

What's next

  • Voters in Wayne and Oakland counties will decide on the millage proposal in the November 3 election
  • If approved, the millage would provide free admission to county residents
  • Free transportation for students and seniors would be implemented
  • New curriculum and training for teachers would be developed
  • Museum collections would be permanently protected

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com