Detroit’s museum and zoo millages, explained: What voters need to know

October 21, 2026

Residents of Wayne and Oakland counties will vote on November 3rd on a 10-year millage proposal to support the Detroit Historical Society and Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, which would cost homeowners approximately $30 annually and provide free transportation for students and seniors, along with free admission for county residents. Separately, voters in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties will decide on renewing a millage for the Detroit Zoo that would continue funding animal care and educational programs at a cost of about $10 yearly for the average homeowner.

Who is affected

Students and seniors in Wayne and Oakland counties (transportation services)
Residents of Wayne and Oakland counties (museum admission and taxation)
Residents of Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties (zoo benefits and taxation)
Detroit Historical Society and its facilities (Detroit Historical Museum and Dossin Great Lakes Museum)
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Center
Teachers in the region (curriculum and training)
Over 2,000 animals and 200 species at the Detroit Zoo
School districts and senior organizations across both counties
Homeowners with property valued at $200,000-$300,000

What action is being taken

The "Yes to Our Story" campaign is seeking voter approval for a 10-year, 0.2-mill levy
The Detroit Zoo is asking residents to renew a 10-year, 0.1 mill levy through its "Renew Your Zoo" campaign
The Southeast Michigan Public Historical Museum Authority, established in July by Wayne and Oakland counties, has placed the museum millage on the ballot
Three millage authorities are responsible for putting the zoo proposal on the ballot
Both museums are currently operating with deficit budgets
The Wright Museum is using lines of credit and operating reserves to maintain contracted programs

Why it matters

These millages represent critical funding mechanisms for institutions preserving regional and African American history and providing educational and recreational opportunities for the community. The museums have been operating on unstable budgets for decades, with the Historical Society facing infrastructure challenges in its 175-year-old facilities and the Wright Museum losing access to DEI-focused grants under federal policy changes. Without stable funding sources, both museums risk program cuts or potential closure, which would eliminate irreplaceable educational resources and repositories of local history. The Detroit Zoo millage provides approximately one-third of the zoo's revenue, making it essential for caring for thousands of animals and maintaining educational programming that serves multiple counties. These institutions function as shared community assets that have served the region for decades, with the zoo approaching its 100th anniversary in 2028.

What's next

Voting will take place on November 3rd
If the museum millage passes, free transportation for students and seniors is planned to begin in 2027
Specific transportation provider details will be determined after the election by the joint authority
If the millage fails in either Wayne or Oakland County, the Southeast Michigan Public Historical Museum Authority will dissolve
Museum officials have stated they will need to make "tough decisions" about operations if their millage doesn't pass
Zoo officials would reassess community support and make difficult budgetary and program decisions if their millage is rejected

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com