New millage
A new tax for history museums?
A new 10-year property tax to fund the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, the Detroit Historical Museum, the Dossin Great Lakes Museum, and other public history museums in Wayne and Oakland counties.
A new 0.2-mill property tax is levied in Wayne County for 2026 through 2035 by the Southeast Michigan Public Historical Museum Authority, to fund the named museums and other public history museums.
No new tax is levied in Wayne County for this purpose. The museums continue on their existing funding sources.
What it costs
Where the money goes
Guaranteed by the ballot language: the money funds the Charles H. Wright Museum, the Detroit Historical Museum (run by the Detroit Historical Society), the Dossin Great Lakes Museum, and other public historical museums in the two counties. 15% of Wayne County's revenue, after the authority's administrative costs, goes to Wayne County to support other history museums in Wayne.
Not specified on the ballot: how the remaining money is split between the Wright Museum and the Detroit Historical Society hasn't been published.
Campaign commitments (promised by supporters, not written into the ballot language):
- Free admission for Wayne and Oakland residents to the Wright, the Detroit Historical Museum and the Dossin
- Free transportation for students and seniors
- New teacher curriculum and training
- Support for smaller local historical institutions
Why it's on the ballot
Both museums report budget deficits after losing federal and state grants. A state bill that would have created a museum funding authority was vetoed in July 2026, so the Wayne and Oakland county commissions created this authority under an existing state law, the Recreational Authorities Act (Public Act 321 of 2000). The Wayne County Commission voted 13–1 and the Oakland County Board of Commissioners voted 11–6.
The model is similar to the regional millages that already fund the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Detroit Zoo.
The exact ballot language
Southeast Michigan Public Historical Museum Authority Millage Proposal
The Southeast Michigan Public Historical Museum Authority ("Authority") is a joint authority established by Wayne and Oakland Counties ("Counties") pursuant to Michigan Public Act 321 of the Public Acts of 2000, as amended, and was formed to support the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit Historical Museum, Dossin Great Lakes Museum, and other public historical museums located in Wayne and Oakland Counties ("Historical Museums") that provide historical museum services for students, residents and visitors of the Counties. The law allows the Authority to seek authorization from the electors in each of the Counties to levy a tax of 0.2 mill (20 cents per $1,000 of taxable value) on taxable property to provide revenue for Historical Museums. It is estimated that if approved and levied on taxable property located within Wayne County, this new millage would generate approximately $12,219,200 in 2026. In addition to supporting the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit Historical Museum, and Dossin Great Lakes Museum, 15% of revenues received by the Authority from taxable property in Wayne County, after Authority administrative expenses, will be disbursed to the County of Wayne for the purposes of supporting Historical Museums in Wayne County.
Shall a 0.2 mill tax on all taxable property located within Wayne County be imposed by the Authority for a period of ten (10) years, being years 2026 through 2035, inclusive, to provide historical museum services for the benefit of the residents of the Counties?
Who's saying what
Supporting
- Yes to Our Story campaign, launched by the Detroit Historical Society and the Wright Museum
- Wayne County Commission Chair Alisha Bell
- Detroit City Council (resolution of support, Sept. 2026)
Their argument: stable public funding, like the DIA's, would protect public collections, keep the museums open, and make them free for residents.
Opposing
No organized opposition campaign has been reported.
Two Oakland County commissioners voted against creating the authority. They cited the property-tax burden on homeowners and suggested philanthropy or admission fees instead.
Questions
Is "Our Story" what's on my ballot?
No. "Yes to Our Story" is the campaign's name. Your ballot says "Southeast Michigan Public Historical Museum Authority Millage Proposal."
Is this only for Detroit?
No. All of Wayne County votes, and Oakland County votes on its own matching question. Macomb isn't included.
What happens if only one county approves?
Each county's question authorizes the tax only in that county. Early reporting said the authority could be dissolved if either county rejects it. We haven't been able to confirm that in the authority's founding documents.
When would I first pay it?
The ballot covers tax years 2026 through 2035, so the first levy would be on 2026 bills.
What would happen to the museums if it fails?
Museum leaders have said they would face "tough decisions" and that current operations may be hard to sustain. They haven't named specific cuts.
Sources
- WDIV/ClickOnDetroit, Wayne County 2026 ballot proposals (ballot language reprint) (Oct. 16, 2026)
- BridgeDetroit, Detroit museums to ask voters to back 10-year millage (Aug. 18, 2026)
- BridgeDetroit, Detroit council backs museum millage campaign (Sept. 30, 2026)
- Detroit News, Effort to create millage for Detroit museums (July 21, 2026)
- Fox 2 Detroit, Museum millage on the ballot (Sept. 29, 2026)
- WXYZ, Museums ask voters to pass 10-year millage (Aug. 2026)
- Recreational Authorities Act, MCL 123.1131