Tri-County Voters Approve 10-Year Funding for Zoo and Museums
Detroit Zoo and museum millages passed with strong support, capping annual costs for homeowners and securing free admission for residents.
By Ayanda Boateng ·
Voters in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties approved two property tax measures on November 4, 2026, that secure public funding for the Detroit Zoo and the Detroit Historical Society. The Detroit Zoo millage received 71.4% of the yes votes across the three counties. The museum millage, which covers both the Detroit Historical Society and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, passed with 59.5% approval in Wayne and Oakland counties.
The zoo measure represents a renewal of a funding stream first approved in 2008. Without this vote, the institution would have faced a funding gap after more than 15 years of stable support. The museum measure is new to the ballot and addresses the financial pressure on the two history-focused institutions. The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History must raise $10 million annually through private donations and ticket sales to remain operational. Neil A. Barclay, the president and CEO of The Wright, described this requirement as a heavy burden for a small nonprofit.
Taxpayers in the participating counties will see specific costs on their property tax bills. A home with a taxable value of $100,000 will pay $20 per year toward the museum millage. For the zoo, a home with a market value of $200,000 will incur an annual cost of $10. These rates are designed to be modest and predictable over the next decade.
In exchange for these annual contributions, residents gain direct benefits. All residents in the participating counties will receive free admission to both the Detroit Historical Society and The Wright. Seniors and students will have access to free transportation for tours. Teachers will receive new curriculum resources and professional training. The measure also provides permanent protection for the publicly owned collections at both institutions.
The millage rate for the museums is set at 0.2 mills, which translates to 20 cents for every $1,000 of taxable value. Michigan taxable values are often lower than market values. The zoo millage operates at a different rate, resulting in the lower annual cost cited in the ballot language. Both measures are set to run for 10 years, locking in funding through 2036.
The passage of these measures eliminates the need for these institutions to rely solely on private fundraising and admission revenue. The Detroit Historical Society and The Wright argued that their previous model was not sustainable. The zoo had relied on the same public support structure since 2008. The vote ensures that these cultural institutions can continue to employ local workers and maintain their artifacts for public viewing.
The next step involves the collection of these taxes beginning with the current fiscal year. Local tax collectors will add the new amounts to existing property tax bills. The institutions will begin implementing the new programming for teachers and the free admission protocols for residents. The 10-year term concludes in 2036, at which point the funding stream will expire unless renewed.
