Voters in Wayne and Oakland counties support a millage to fund two Detroit cultural institutions preserving Black history, according to unofficial vote tallies.
The “Yes to Our Story” campaign from the Detroit Historical Society and Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History is seeking approval of a 10-year, 0.2-mill levy to support operations.
With all of the votes counted, 68% of Wayne County voters supported the millage. In Oakland County, 53% of voters backed the millage, with of the unofficial vote tallied.
“Generations of Detroiters built this museum because they believed our stories deserved a home,” Neil A. Barclay, president and CEO of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History said in a Wednesday statement. “Yesterday, the people of Wayne and Oakland Counties honored that legacy and made sure every child in this region can learn from it. We are grateful for their trust, and we intend to earn it every day.”
Historical Society President and CEO Elana Rugh formerly said, when the millage plan was unveiled in August, that the proposal would bring financial stability to both museums while allowing the institutions to focus on what they do best – preserving local and Black history while ensuring everyone can experience it.
“For more than a century, the Detroit Historical Society has kept the story of this region, and yesterday voters made sure we can keep telling it,” Rugh said in a statement. “This victory belongs to the volunteers, staff and partners who carried our story into every corner of both counties. We will show them what their investment makes possible.”
The tax will amount to $30 per year for the owner of a home with an average value of $300,000 and support operating costs for both museums.
The museum millage was placed on the ballot by the Southeast Michigan Public Historical Museum Authority, a joint public authority established in July by Wayne and Oakland counties, according to the “Yes to Our Story” website.
Barclay has noted that the millage will allow both museums to have a more prosperous and unified future and more money to cover operating costs.
The proposal also calls for free transportation to the two museums for students and seniors. The millage also would ensure that residents of both Wayne and Oakland counties receive free admission to the Wright Museum and the Historical Society, which operates the Detroit Historical Museum in Midtown and the Dossin Great Lakes Museum on Belle Isle. Currently, only small children and museum members receive free admission.
To thank the community, the three museums will offer free admission from Wednesday, Nov. 4 through Sunday, Nov. 8.
Results will become official after the county canvass. In the coming months, the Wright and DHS will share the timeline for the first levy and plans for reporting to taxpayers on how the funds are used.
Detroit Zoo millage renewal
Meanwhile, another long-standing regional institution will continue to receive support from residents in the tri-county area. The Detroit Zoo asked residents in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties to renew a 10-year, 0.1 mill levy for its “Renew Your Zoo” campaign.
Unofficial results in all three counties showed the millage renewal passed with 75% support in Wayne County, 71% in Oakland County and 69% in Macomb County.
“This is an incredibly meaningful week for us, as voters across Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties have renewed their support for the Detroit Zoological Society,” a Wednesday post on the zoo’s Facebook page reads. “We are deeply thankful for the confidence our community has placed in us.”
The millage will allow the zoo to continue caring for more than 2,000 animals and 200 different species. For a homeowner with a home worth $200,000, the average cost will remain about $10 a year, said Hayley Murphy, executive director and CEO of the Detroit Zoological Society. The nonprofit operates the Detroit Zoo and the Belle Isle Nature Center, which is also included in the millage. The Detroit Zoo’s 100th anniversary is in 2028.
“The millage is a real stable source of funding for us,” Murphy said. “It’s about a third of our revenue, so that helps cover both the zoo and the Belle Isle Nature Center. It helps us pay for the amazing animal care that we do.”
Residents in the three counties first approved the Detroit Zoo tax in 2008 and again in 2016.