Should the DIA Be Able to Charge Macomb Twp. Residents to See Special Exhibits?

When Macomb County residents passed the Art Institute Authority millage in August, free admission to the Detroit Institute of Arts was promised to every resident in return, including those in Macomb Township.

Just four months later, that promise is being challenged in Macomb County Circuit Court.

On Thursday, members of the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance, including former Macomb Township state representative Leon Drolet, filed a lawsuit against the DIA, challenging that the museum breached its free admission agreement, according to court records.

The lawsuit claims that the museum denied Drolet and other Macomb County residents free admission to the special exhibit, "Faberge: The Rise and Fall", thus violating its promise to provide "unlimited, free museum admission" to residents of one of the millage-supporting counties.

Simon Haddad of Clinton Township, Judy and Dennis Buchholtz of Warren and Philis DeSaele of Sterling Heights join Drolet as plaintiffs in the lawsuit, according to court records.

Per the Art Institute Service Agreement, or contract, between the Macomb County Art Institute Authority and the DIA, the museum promised to provide "unlimited, free museum admission for all residents of Macomb County, including self-guided student field trips" should the millage be passed.

"The Detroit Institute of Arts lied," Drolet told Local 4, speaking on behalf of the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance. "They said with this millage passed that people in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties would have unlimited admission to the art museum. And now they are charging people for what they call 'special exhibits.' That's not what's in the contract and that's not what they said in the campaign."

Should the court rule in favor of the residents, the DIA could be required to permanently refrain from collecting any admission fee from Macomb County residents and award the residents $250 each plus attorney’s fees, The Detroit Free Press reports.

Although the millage passed narrowly at the county level, with just 50.5 percent of the vote, it failed in Macomb Township by 792 votes.

At 0.2 mills, the 10-year, tri-county millage is slated to bring in a total of $230 million, without which museum officials have said they would have to reduce staff, shorten hours and eventually close.

In a recent HuffPost Detroit poll, 64.24 of respondents said the DIA should be able to charge residents who pay the arts millage to see special exhibits. What do you think, Macomb Township?